LOVE AND TRANSITION, 

A PLEA FOR 



THE 



PRACTICALIZATION 



OF 



KNOWN TRUTH 



AND 



RIGHTEOUSNESS, 



f 
ti / 

^ 7rUi , MARY E. TILLOTSON, 

OF VINELAND, NEW JERSEY. 






^Ar 



PHILADELPHIA^ 

John D. Avil, Progress Print., 4,042 Market St., 

1878. 



^ 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1878, 

By MARY E. TILLOTSON, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
All lights reserved. 



DEDICATION, 



TO LOVERS OF PURITY AND JUSTICE, 

TO 

APPRECIATORS OF CHARACTER 

Above Repu-tation, 

IN THE PRESENT AND THE 

RISING AGE, 

THIS POEM, EVOKING LOVE, 

ON THE PLANE OF REASON, 

IS MOST KINDLY 

DEDICATED 

BY THE AUTHOR. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



Good and honored names have offered to endorse my 
book; and very gratefully I appreciate the friendly kind- 
ness. The custom of heralding or sustaining a produc- 
tion ere it be well examined is generous, and I am not 
inclinea to criticise it, certainly not till more fully per- 
suaded as to what is best ; but rather prefer to rest my 
work on its merits, hoping they will invite the investi- 
gating public to so commend that the aim will be accom- 
plished. If my themes and their handling will not carry 
readers through, and direct attention to the objects 
sought, there would be no mutual honor between names 
and book, and it asks no sacrifice in that line. But, if 
readers perceive the value of the subject, the importance 
of the endeavor in treating it, and will express their 
convictions upon them to the public, it will mean more 
than patronage, and for progress' sake, I shall most 
sincerely thank them. 

M. E. T. 



PREFACE. 



The Title page and Dedication of tliis gift of 
a woman's thought to the world, so nearly ex- 
plain the intentj that but few prefatory remarks 
are necessary. 

For casting it on the waves of public notice, 
honor neither asks nor makes apology, if the 
reader discern the writer's belief that it is valu- 
able. For producing it, the causes and incen- 
tives are so numerous and so constantly recurring 
at present, in all departments of society, that 
sympathy with suffering claims merit, rather 
than pardon for wishing to alleviate. The hu- 
manitarian thinker naturally methodizes and 
embodies, if language and construction are 
favorable. Under this process I have sought to 
supply a demand apparent on the face of all 
efforts to regulate and harmonize industry and 
amity, tolerance and liberty. 

My tribute has taken the poetic form through 
a love of rythmic literature, and a seeming that 
mind would enjoy the labor of thought if the 



8 PREFACE. 

soul sang the thread into ribbons or wreaths, 
more than if woven into baize or bunting- — 

And haply my listeners, if soothed in the reading, 
Would easier catch and retain the full meaning. 

They are privileged to call the fabric mere 
rhyme, if they choose ; I only crave consideration 
of the topics presented, and the thought upon 
them. I care far more to be understood than 
appreciated ; and trust the kindly and charitable 
will perceive my motive inseparable from gene- 
ral welfare. 

If opposers of progress comprehend my deep 
prayer for all the virtues, they will be likelier to 
pervert the expression, than acknowledge the 
aim. 

It is hoped the characters presented in the Epic 
portion will in some degree illustrate the practi- 
cal idea. 

If I am criticised for lack of grandeur or finish, 
I only plead that it be remembered that the 
subject, especially the Argumentative part, is 
unfavorable to measure and mellow flow of lan- 
guage ; and second, that the work was written 
and prepared for the press in three months, while 
doing all my domestic work, overseeing the gar- 
den, and doing many other occasional things. 
The broken, abrupt style can hardly be avoided 



PREFACE. 9 

when it is sought to suggest much, while shun- 
ning elaborateness and consequent voluminous- 
ness. Scholars will not need be told the whole 
aim is to aid this revolutionary epoch in advanc- 
ing progressive sentiment, and amending customs 
speedily as possible, and not to produce a fine 
literary work, which, with all this material, 
time and care, would well have done. Haste 
was prompted by a sense of the immense need 
of present public action among friends of free- 
dom of speech, of the press, and of the mail. 

The last quarter of the nineteenth century 
opens with more unsettled issues, and threaten- 
ing aspects than have concentred in any of its 
periods, demanding more wise, prompt and de- 
voted labor. 

When we note how slowly liberty has traveled 
since its thrilling name became the soul of hope 
— since under the shadow of a throne Moore 
dared sing — 

"Everywhere gallant hearts and spirits true 
Are served up victims to the vile and few," 

when we see the effort still strong to serve up 
nations— to crush the van of progress — silence 
free speech, and suppress advancing science, we 
may know our first duty is to secure liberty, and 
our labor should be brave and unremitting. 

M. E. T. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION 



PROLOGUE 



Neveve and Lindale met one autumn day, 
Heart-whole and happy, in their upper teens, 

And dreamed not that their eyes' first answering play 
Established loves a lifetime never weans. 

But crimson leaves and apples ripe came round 
Again, and they were talking of a year 

When smiling destiny their walks might bound 
By one closed circle, firm as it was dear. 

A common thing of course, love always is, 
For soon or late all yield it time and place ; 

Yet, while the blossom seeks the sunshine's kiss, 
Untiring wonder will its story trace ; 

Unless its science managed by the good 

In its transition era comes at last. 
So teaches its high nature, purpose, mood, 

That knowledge shall its mystic skies recast. 
1* 



]^2 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

But now its joys are dashed with tears and sighs, 
Some deem them richer than if singly borne— 

I venture to predict the true and wise 

Will store the goodly fruit and crop the thorn. 

Neveve was cherishing her treasure new, 

Where'er she went Lindale was by her side — 

A fixed companionship too early grew, 
, Too quickly they became each other's pride. 

And this too soon ran o'er the gossip rounds ; 

Cards coupled came for party, ride and sail, 
And time flew cheerily, breeze and bird sounds 

Charmed flowery walks along their favorite vale. 

Yet not a thoughtless, trifling girl was she, 
Header and thinker from a child, her mind 

Was richly stored, imparted readily ; 
Gave what he ever grateful felt to find. 

The wrongs in wedded life they oft discussed, 

Tho' social movements scarce were known to move ; 

Their agitation barely reached the rust 

In best of views ; not much they'd sought to prove 

On this great topic, but Neveve had thought, 
Had seen much vice pursued the marriage plan. 

And told her lover woman never ought 
To live with drunken or lascivious man. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

And she intended her belief to live — 

If such an one should her in love deceive, 

She'd leave him, asking not men's laws to give 
Consent, his broken faith would her relieve. 

Love's serious points alone she pondered o'er, 
For deep affection had her soul infilled ; 

She felt her fate was changed forever more, 
A voice had reached her ear ne'er to be stilled. 

It was the first inseparable guest 

Her heart had harbored, and to be so calm 
With such a fortune in her youthful breast, 

Was almost strange enough to give alarm. 

Disposed to analyze her case, she thought 
Of two or three admirers who professed 

To feel alchemic changes when they sought 

Her hand to hold the wand to make them blest. 

Judging how hard, if even possible, 
'Twould be to reassume her single soul. 

She saw some clearer how responsible 
Is the assenting to be loved at all. 

Renewing then her pity and kind earing 

For those dismissed, fearing them still bereaved. 

She meant to scrutinize her present bearing. 
Decide her course, be of suspense relieved. 



14 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

To do this well she sought societ} 

All by herself awhile ; 'twas dull and cold ; 
She would not feign indifference or satiety, 

But said to Lindale, " Let us see how old 

Our heads are grown in one year of delight ; 

Long feasting on ambrosia, 'mong the Joves 
May puff with fragrance, ' color normal sight, 

And cause disrelish of staid earthly loves." 

" All well," he smiling answered, yet she saw 
Signs of a sorrow o'er his features run. 
Which blanched her own, and left a tiny flaw 
In memory,, but hope was still love's sun. 

Impressions doubtless to this measure led. 
To smooth the way to disappointment's shade 

For almost to her door the news had spread 
That his fixed habits village roues made. 

The shocking story first she disbelieved ; 

This, too, a grading laid to ease the jar ; 
But short inquiry proved she was deceived ; 

Her sun was darkened, and the holy star 

Of principle alone sat on her brow. 
The all sustaining potency of truth 

Would not permit the weighty wo to bow 
Her spirit below strength to act for both. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 15 

Facts were imperative just then she knew, 

They proved her idol in man's best gifts weak ; 

She would have given all else to know him true, 
But seeing otherwise, resolved to speak 

The word that must their moonshine visions end, 
Tho' neither might the rending grief outgrow ; 

'Twas clear her precious life should never blend 
With one who truth to self oft failed to know. 

They wept together and sighed out good-bye, 
Parted in friendship, tho' they met in love ; 

The nineteenth century will new maxims try. 

Truths long ignored will wholesome doctrines prove. 

Neveve to science, art and labor turned. 

Sad in bereavement, clear in conscious right ; 

Philosophy applied to life was learned — 

Thought cleft the clouds and welcomed higher light. 

Her lover could not stay where northern hills 
Brought hourly mem'ries of his lesson hard, 

But sought relief where southern verdure fills 
The year with perfume tho' some rest is marred. 

As time limped on and marked each measured round, 
On both the signs of change and cheer were laid, 

But differently, she thought, use effort crowned ; 
He fancied pleasure quite as amply paid. 



IQ LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Accepting nature's whole, orbs, oaks, drops, seeds, 
She grasped the endless^ based in human ties ; 

Merely not scorning justice and good deedsy 
He slowly rose, diffused and feebly wise. 

So peoples surge, reckless of custom's power 
To purge or poison the deep springs of youth, 

By practice teach that vices of the hour 

Should more attract than bliss-begetting truth. 

O ! for an age when all will dare their best^ 
And soar to worth unselfish, humbly great ,' 

When thirst for fame, petty or grand, suppressed, 
Leaves mind to nobly choose, work well and wait. 

Neveve was on the margin of this plane. 

Exploring routes, and diamond caverns opening ; 

Lindale could, 'neath her telescopic brain, 
Discern afar its sheen, yet moved by groping. 

Hence crossed with iceand sparsely strewn with flowers, 
His way continued years with trials filled ,' 

Voyage and travel calmed some restless powers, 
Experience varied mental ramblings stilled. 

And resting on a pleasant sunny coast 

He loved so well his heart seemed to enfold it, 

'Tis meet, (for fancy sees him there almost) 
To sing the tale where reformation told it. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION, I7 



THE BOWER. 

Young Lindale sought his favorite bower 
At purple sunset's placid hour, 
For thoughts most pensive would intrude, 
Prompting the sigh for solitude. 
A nameless sadness o'er him stole, 
And stirred the fountains of his soul. 
Whose 'whelming tides and gushing streams 
Drove from his cheek joys roseate gleams, 
And turned with the electric haste 
Of memory rushing back on waste. 
His late sweet dreams of mutual bliss 
And love and life to nothingness. 
And he must leave the trusting smile 
That wooed his stay, that would beguile 
The grief unknown his heart that rent, 
And o'er his brow its shadows sent ; 
Soft eyes that strove to read his own 
He'd leave, and pour his 'plaints alone. 
Slow was his step, and slightly bent 
His form, which fav'ring nature lent 
Her choicest charms ; as yet, his strength 
Would but him bear the garden's length. 



Ig LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

For long liad fever's frenzied chain 

Him bound on burning bed of pain, 

And only then with scrup'lous care, 

He ventured unattended there. 

A balmy, pure, Atlantic breeze 

Just shook the foliago of the trees 

That wide their blooming branches spread, 

And sung low airs above his head, 

While birds their vespers chanting higher, 

Made chorus for the leafy choir. 

Fresh odors rose from flowers that lay 

Along his myrtle 'broidered way, 

Where limpid fountains gemmed the grounds 

With cooling flow from wreath-girt mounds. 

As on he passed he noted these, 

And felt the bracing breath of seas, 

With the calm influence that fell 

From pink and rose and bud and bell, 

Relieve his languor, and in part, 

Allay the yearnings of his heart. 

He gained the bower, and quickly sank 

Upon a moss-enveloped bank, 

O'erhung with many a flowering vine, 

Whose tendrils wove a texture fine. 

Forming at noon a cooling screen, 

And shading light to loveliest green. 

But then did Georgia's amber skies 

And lingering sunbeams shed such dyes 

As might be deemed thro' gauze to fall, 

From golden lamp in Persian hall, 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. ^9 

Or to descend from jewelled throne, 
By knighthood's valor reared alone, 
From green and purple canopy 
On " holy land," when chivalry 
Set triumph banners high to blaze. 
In royal Godfrey's glorious days. 
And then, thank evolution's power, 
He had the light, the bloom, the bower, 
Without the blinding glare of glory. 
And its attachment, death-fields gory ; 
He had, we now have, light far greater 
From many a scientific crater ; 
From many a holy ghost and son. 
Promoting peace and love begun ; 
From daughters too, of God, O, man ! 
Lighting thy fraud from scheme and plan. 

Old times — ah ! how the clouds were nursed 

By man to shut the best beams out, 
And shut those in that should have burst 
Encrusted souls and dark minds cursed 

With moral spasms and mythic gout. 
In spite of Jove, born of man's spite. 

Who made man's servant of a bone, 
Woman gained knowledge and the light — 

She emanated made it known 
That allegoric rib and man, 

Apple and serpent were to blind 
Her reason — that she scorned the plan, 

And every arm that would her bind. 



20 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Her love's ideal makers mended, 

And masters moulded till at length 
Among the best 'tis not pretended 

That man is lord, or myth has strength. 
Nought is too high for critic thought. 

And nought beneath her tender care — 
Some grand men aid her as they ought. 

As all must learn to everywhere — ■ 
Strengthening the crushed, robbed, reft and weak. 

And teaching traitors to desist — 
Allowing innocence to speak 

For rights so long and sorely missed. 
Woman endow with freedom's power. 
And all are crowned in birthright dower. 
Glimpse of these facts was Lindale's light, 

Calling from ruin's common route — 
Woman's free hand. his godlike might 

Before the world held bravely out. 
And many a grateful man and youth 

One day the triumph tale will write 
Of seeking sunny ways of truth 

Through liberty to love the right ; 
And women, ransomed from fell strife. 
Will sing the strain of honored life. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 21 



EPISODE. 

A landscape fair, its precincts bland, 

And rich plantations stretched beyond, 

Our Lindale's eyes and fancies caught. 

When he from wrongs a refuge sought, 

Returning from a foreign shore 

He'd traveled, searched and studied o'er. 

No lovelier spot can nature boast 

On broad Columbia's sail-girt coast, 

Than that gay villa, fair it lay 

Just oif a coral stranded bay. 

Whose sparkling waters danced to meet 

A river current, clear and sweet, 

A laughing stream that circled through 

Perennial groves that never knew 

The frown of winter, but do bear 

Their luscious fruitage through the year. 

Around that site with beauty graced. 

And lavish wealth, and woman's taste. 

Clustered such scenery as might seem 

The answering of the pilgrim's dream, 

The elysian shore that chains the gaze 

Of martyr staadfast in the blaze ; 

Yet, real all, the varying shades. 

And tints adorning glens and glades, 

The orange dropping golden showers. 

The grape impurpling dark green bowers, 



22 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

The lemon bright 'mid blooms as fair, 
The grand magnolia's blossom's rare. 
All bounteous gifts of loving heaven, 
To solace earthly dwellers given. 
And there, his coastings ended, there. 
His wanderings done, he meant to share 
The usury of his wealth with those 
Who, by diverting, pain oppose ; 
There drive despondence from his mind, 
And haply some enjoyment find. 
Twelve months in rare amusements spent, 
With useful toil, for health's sake, blent, 
Where manly youths caressed him on. 
And beauty's smile enchanting shone. 
Veiled, as he wished, the sorrowing past. 
And on his heart a spell-light cast. 
Well did his ruddy lip and cheek. 
And lustrous eye his pleasure speak. 
And rounded limb, and mien attest 
The wholesome measure of his rest. 
But soon, too soon, alas ! the gale 
Of dire contagion swept the veil 
Of tinsel, flower-embossed, from view, 
Aside the dizened curtain drew ; 
Bore off the dazzling dome of light, 
And hung a pall of clouded night. 
To moans was turned his silvery laugh. 
And half delirious, sentient half, 
He knew not whether visions stole 
With blinding vapors o'er his soul, 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 23 

Or whether, waked from blissful dream 

Of land where fays in transport gleam, 

He saw the real forms of life, 

And felt its worst of wo and strife ; 

But this he knew, his powers were free 

Thro' all the motley past to see. 

Yet, this was thankless consciousness, 

Had faithful memory garnered less 

Of ardent feeling, checked and rolled 

Back on its vacant fount and cold ; 

Of pride subdued and love bereft. 

Their deeply graven traces left, 

Their throes had then not rent the brain 

And swelled the load of present pain. 

Like incubus that binds the limb 

Which fain would slay the sj^ectre grim ; 

Like brand that rivets to the pile 

The victim of avenging guile. 

Dark, haunting thoughts with piercing weight, 

The seeming arbiters of fate, 

His wild ideal being filled 

With miseries that worse than killed. 

He knew his mother with him dwelt, 

Held cool hands on his tossing head ; 
Her soft eyes told the prayer she felt, 

Her wish his murmurs quieted ; 
Yet, knew her as a spirit dear. 

Seven years his angel messenger ; — 
Knew no one else perceived her there, 

That no one ever lost a mother, 



24 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

No task for her to disappear, 

Or to return with tender care. 
Long days of fever's raging fires — 
Suspense Nvhich patient nature tires, 
And nights of wearing torture came, 
(To him were day and night the same,) 
Thro' which he prayed for life altho' 
Fear floated high, and hope sank low. 
He knew a faithful friend supplied 
His parching thirst, and watched beside 
His tedious couch ; wiped the hot tear ; 
Hung o'er his pulse with anxious fear ; 
His temples bathed, and fanned his cheek ; 
Soft words of cheer essayed to speak ; 
Each clamor hushed whose din might fall 
Upon his silent chamber's wall. 
But of that tender being's name, 
Form, age or sex, vague knowledge came, 
Until disease its rage had spent. 
And quiet slumbers kindly lent 
Their calming comforts, and restored 
The wavering senses long deplored. 
He woke, the visual organs cleared, 
All fair again the world appeared ; 
His ear unsealed, the lively sound 
Of busy life was pealing round. 
Thro' damask curtains morn's bright beams 
Poured on his walls their golden gleams, 
And on his covering snowy white 
Reposed their warm and rosy light. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 25 

Fresh flowers still wet with shining dew, 
Green leaves and glossy petals threw 
O'er many an Orient-moulded vase, 
With taste disposed, which wooed his gaze. 

" O ! who," lisped he, " thus truly cares 
How the poor stricken stranger fares ? 
Who fondly doth his chamber wreathe 
With garlands which such sweetness breathe ? 
Who clothes in linen pure and fine 
His bed" — he paused, a form divine 
Approached with silent step and slow, 
And blush sufiusing cheek and brow ; 

" What asks my Lindale, dreams he yet ?" 
Not so, a smiling glance she met. 
A pale and feeble hand he raised. 
And touching her's, quoth, " heaven be praised, 
I am relieved ! but Flavia, dear, 
Can it be thou that's ever near 
My anguished head, and earnest more 
Than cea&eless gratitude's full store? 
Thou, daughter of my noble host. 
Beloved of all and cherished most ? 
The tireless saint whose watch hath wrought 
So spell-like on my fluctuant thought ? — 
Whose hand with rare ancestral rino^s 
Fitly adorned, these roses brings 
To load with fresh and rich perfume 
My fiery breath, lest it consume 
The dust 'tis animating now ? 
Say, lovely Flavia, is it thou?" 



26 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

The fleeting glow left pale her cheek 
Oft as essayed her tongue to speak, 
Yet, every feature truth confessed, — 
Her fingers to his lips he pressed, 
And whispered, " Still blest being stay 
And charm these sorrowing days away. 
Thy presence with thy gathered flowers 
Shall haste my convalescent hours — 
Or asks my weakness more than deems 
Thy grace thy honored state beseems ? 
Forgive then, gentle one, I pray. 
And yet — and yet — go not away." 
Emboldened by his earnest plea, 
Her eyes of love and sanctity, 
She turned on his, and in low voice 
Replied, " Since 'tis thy present choice, 
The prattling jeer of prudes I'll scorn, 
And hie to meet thee every morn. 
When flrst I bathed thy 'wildered head, 
And smooth its sultry pillow spread. 
Thou saidst in wildness, yet with look 
That told how ill thy breast could brook 
Refusal of a suppliant quest, 
' O, leave me not so void of rest ! 
I ween the only one thou art 
Who sympathizes — don't depart, 
For I've no natal sister near 
To solace give, and softly cheer ; 
The cold urn wraps my mother's clay, 
And my Neveve is far away ;' 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Hence have I watched each waiio of thine, 

And still thy every wish is mine." 

Time that before went flagging by, 

On wing of easy flag 'gan fly ; 

And oft, ere long, took rapid flight ; 

Mild dreams and slumbers winged the night, 

And smiles and music sweet the day^ 

For Flavia loved to wake the lay. 

Of merry bard, and as she blent 

With tones the rich melodeon sent 

In soft vibrations on the ear, 

A voice his breath was hushed to hear, 

He oft beheld some spirit fair 

Of ancient minstrel musing there. 

Thus passed a month, meanwhile returned, 

In part the strength for which he yearned ; 

And grateful for the boon, repose. 

So long deferred, he joyful rose. 

To free inhale the tonic air 

From flowing sea and fresh parterre. 

By all inspiring hope w^as buoyed 

His weary soul ; his mind employed 

On themes that lit to smiles the heart. 

The germs of joy afresh could start 

From source that dormant lay, and hid 

The withering ivy leaves amid. 

Thus slipped the pleasing hours away, 

Thus music-timed, day rolled on day. 

Till so restored was health, that thought 

On schemes of future fortune wrought ; 



23 



LOVE AND TRANSITION, 

And jDlans were laid that thrift ensured 
But all abandoned e'er matured. 
The weight of his career still hung 
Like mill-stone on his spirit young, 
Binding its force, and must be cast 
Behind with things used up and past. 
Confinement long his mind had made 
More meditative, calm and staid ; 
Fancy forsook the jeweled height 
Its pinions fanned in dangerous flight, 
Deeming the glittering gauds that shone 
Mazy and mystic lofts upon, 
But mimic gems, alluring fires. 
The playthings of unmeet desires. 
His ardency to roam removed. 
Amusement's folly fairly proved, 
He craved a quiet walk of life, 
"Which, undisturbed by stately strife, 
Might that content impart and love 
Which mortals trust the good above 
Attain when innocence and worth 
Eedeem from sins and crimes of earth. 
In Flavia's true affections he 
That boon in prospect nigh could see. 
For, if he read aright his own, 
They had, of late, been hers alone. 
Reviving from the embers cool, 
Which sorrow's self a time did rule. 
They could but mingle with the same 
Endearing breath that calmed the flame. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 29 

Hence, he to proffer all resolved, 
To end suspense which both involved, 
And all his love declaring free ; 
Solicit in return that she 
Bear witness by confession bold. 
To what her blushes long had told. 
But when about to press his suit, 
Divided issues held him mute ; 
He could not offer at her shrine 
His heart and say 'tis wholly thine. 
He loved forsooth the beauty well. 
And could upon her merits dwell 
With eye and ear and soul enchained, 
Awhile forgetting that there reigned 
Within his breast another voice 
Which said, she is a second choice, 
O, such is man ! love's melting glow, 
While on its prize bright beamings flow, 
Still backward sends some radiant gleams, 
And haply forward too there streams 
Relucent rays to shine and burn 
When other lights to dimness turn. 
And this has puzzled scribe and seer, 
But woman more, and wrung the tear 
Of broken faith and bitterness. 
And stole the hapless husband's bliss. 
The heart aggrieved, by mandates barred. 
Reckless became and pure love marred ; 
Hence sorrow flowed so wide all quaffed. 
And only, tyrants gained and laughed. 



30 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Others deplored the subtle sin, 
And long and dire its reign has been. 
But science which is truth outwrought, 
At length a remedy has sought, 
And finds sweet freedom which invites 
In other lines to pure delights. 
Works charmingly in human loves, 
Wards off the vultures, wins the doves. 
'Tis now perceived, love that will live, 

Need not be spurned or murmured o'er. 
But take fraternally and give 

The larger, more unselfish store, 
Altho' another now has blest 
The fonder tie of breast to breast. 
Discrepancies so troublous made 

Came from WTong culture, barb'rous laws; 
Not by rich nature, when obeyed. 

She's one with good, avoiding flaws ; 
Man must retrieve his mangled heart, 

Sore since old myths infused their gall 
Thro' base blind Cupid's frolic darts, 

And folks as blind who sought them all. 
Tho' few his years fair Lindale knew 
The foibles, frailties, treacheries too 
In man's impulsive soul, and felt 
Much ruin followed where they dwelt. 
So, was perplexed that round him wove 
Two scarce conflicting webs of love, 
And, doubting whether to recede. 
Or to advance, ceasing to heed 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 33 

The call that sounded from the past, 

As echo from the cavern vast, 

Wrapt his weak form in I^orthern mantle, 

Shielfling from dews with foldings ample, 

And went at Phoebus' farewell hour 

To the once oft frequented bower. 

And sank adown in gloom, as told 

When first the bower his name enrolled. 

And there, 'mid fondly clasping vines. 

Sweet shrubs and kingly crested pines. 

He sat as pale and thoughtful made 

As when he first beheld that shade ; 

There closed his mental eyes upon 

The beauteous things that round him shone; 

Upon the future's mystic skies. 

The present's mingled songs and sighs. 

And heedless all of twilight dews. 

Upon the squandered past did muse. 

Right here again would I slip in 
A thought on spirits that impress 

The mind while fleshly form within ; 
They see that ere they can it bless, 

Unfoldment due must clear its powers ; 
On chaos crude, or emptiness, 

'Tis vain to shed supernal showers ; 
His guides conducted the distress 

That led him forth, and caused his reason 
To note each lapse, despise excess, 

Resolve to shun self-duping treason, 

And thus he thought, thus dared confess. 



32 LOVE AND TRANSITIOI«. 



THE HETROSPECT. 

O ! truly hath spoken the learned and sage. 

The journey of life is a rough pilgrimage ; 

And surely was he both a bard and a seer 

AVho stated that man 'twixt a smile and a tear 

A pendulum is, for soon as his lip 

Is wreathed of the bliss of the former to sip, 

The scene is reversed, and quick to his eye 

The latter with misery laden doth fly. 

To me what hath life been ? a chase which hath caught 

Mere glimpses of objects my warm wishes sought, 

And glances of pleasures I panted to share. 

But glances that witnessed them empty as air. 

Yet stay, my too hasty emotions, forsooth, 

Nor urge me to leap the bold barriers of truth ; 

Existence some dear, hallowed seasons hath known, 

Which memory values as monarch his throne ; 

Seasons produced by that gift of the soul. 

Which the mandates of vice have not power to control ; 

And now in misanthropic murmurs to cast 

The pall of dark bodings wide-spread o'er the past, 

Acknowledging not the bright intervals given, 

Were cynic irreverence to truth — I'm not driven 

E'en yet, to drive out what this breast has of heaven ! 



LOVE AND TPvANSITION. 33 

Nay— falsehood's the vapor that darkens the mindj 

The soul, spirit, heart, all that should be refined ; 

And no doubt the sensitive form feels the cold 

Creeping in on its sympathies depositing mould ; 

But truth, sweet and genial, frank justice to all, 

Lights and warms every mansion from attic to hall, 

And echoes fresh music from every wall. 

Thus the inmates are famished, distracted and chilled, 

When the temple is laden and recklessly filled ; 

Excess and satiety canker, consume, 

Far more than grim want in its desolate gloom. 

All customs thus tending to Avaste and decay, 

Create the unequal and woe-haunted way ; 

And nations as per: on s, despots as canaille, 

Partake of the poison, results never fail, 

Sd people enjoy or endure what they j)urchase ; 

I've ta'en now a rose, then an asp, then a pure kiss," 



34 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



THE INVOCATIOI^. 

" Celestial powers, impart that guiding grace 
Which in the passions leaves no hiding place 
To grim ingratitude's revolting train 
That holds a dire and desolating reign 
O'er souls which ne'er a baser flame should know 
Than grateful love's serene benignant glow. 
And bodies for them, as pure incense urn, 
Should only peaceful kindly offerings burn ; 
For reason, in my most abandoned mood, 
Proclaims the universe has nought but good, 
Save what the man in hostile armor clad, 
Blindly perverts, or rashly renders bad. 
And happiness, that choice and heavenly charm, 
The dreams of which despairs array disarm. 
From joy's o'erflowing source is freely poured, , 
And all who will the precious drops may hoard. 
O, soul of mine ! I bowed to ask a higher 
To time thy chords to a harmonic lyre — 
And e'er aware I'm looking down thy deeps. 
Round thy expanse, and up thy endless steeps — 
Declaring what was dim before, and mixed, 
But now seems clear — as rocks eternal fixed. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 35 

Sustain me soul, and never will I reel, 

Or swing an o'er-spent magnet, from the steel. 

I see the lesson, soul and angels fair, 

Humbly and truly seeking is true prayer, 

And loving answer ever whispers there. 

Without humility the plea is form. 

The wind responds, and, very like the storm. 

This is not like the primer prayer I learned. 

Or pulpit rounds from schools dogmatic turned, 

Beseeching some imagined mightiness 

To pour out terrors ne'er designed to bless , 

Save domes and steeple's glare and vestry's gown. 

And heads that hold by fear demure heads down. 

Yet this is nature uttering her own — 

That is being analyzed, and will be shown. 

The mind's horizon rifted bj free thought, 

And pinned apart by glittering soul-gems, wrought 

To finest blaze and highest use before 

Those dogmas darkened cot or palace door, 

Will shower its rays on prayer and every right — 

My soul and all that loves thee, pray for light." 



35 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



THE MEDITATIOK 

** What soothing sweets from the celestial track 
The upward thought bears on its pinion's back. 
Again I'm calm, and can unbiased trace 
The checkered course, the short, eventful space 
Of the few years since childhood's harmless joy 
My blissful spirit filled, and the alloy 
That broko its flow of gladness was more brief 
And sooner banished than the withered leaf. 
Delicious childhood ! how a mother's love, 
Like the soft wings of the devoted dove. 
In sweet embrace my fairy being bound. 
And like the sun shed all bright blessings round. 
And early rosy youth, blissful as fair, 
Blest by a mother's undivided care. 
Passed as the purling stream green banks along. 
With not a grief-note in its gushing song. 
Had the dear guardian of those hours of light. 
Who stayed my erring steps and sped my right. 
Remained and virtue for her * darling' sought. 
Her precepts still by pure examples taught, 
Perchance I had not, tlind to wisdom's way, 
Gone from the path of happiness astray. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 37 

Her spirit ill the world's abuse could brook, 
While body shrank from e'en a vicious look, 
And angels gliding from the sapphire dome, 
Received with songs their sainted sister home. 
Of filial love the burning tear and sigh 
Could not revoke the mighty mandate high ; 
And I was left a lone and orphaned heir, 
Bereavements woes to feel, its weeds to wear, 
When giddy youth a gentle guide most needs — 
When fiery vision fitful dream succeeds — 
When I looked forward with impassioned gaze 
To manhood's bounteous years and blissful days ; 
And fancy held them to her rapturous view, 
As near and fast their false precursors flew. 
Yet, scoff" who will, somehow I've felt, heard, seen 
Since then, my mother — when wrong like a screen 
Surrounds, and foes and trials are a host, 
To warn and aid my helper strives the most. 
Alas for me ! a father's friendly voice 
Ne'er bid my young and bounding heart rejoice. 
Yet, taught by her's who sighed to speak the same, 
I oft repeated the endearing name. 
And who will chide that now with brimming breast, 
I dwell on times that in their gladness blest ? 
Then innocency moved my artless tongue, 
And to delight the tuneful soul was strung. 
How diff*'rent from the scenes around me thrown, 
When bowed in grief and gloom I sat alone 
Within the doors by honored parents left, 
And, 'mid abundance, felt of all bereft. 



38 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Alas! how diff'rent from the next remove 
When tempted from those hallowed halls to rove, 
Seeking enjoyment in the slippery ways 
Of dissipation's madly mirthful maze. 
' Come,' said Adolph, ' cheer up my hearty friend, 
Ne'er in retirement youth and beauty spend — 
Leave these stale relics, these thought-haunted rooms, 
And daily vigils 'mong the ghostly tombs ; 
The world has better charms for thee to share — 
Too long thou'st breathed the silent cloisters air — ■ 
I will present thee to the gay and fair, 
Joyful access awaits such offer there.' 
Skilled in persuasions sly assiduous art. 
Too well he acted the seducer's part. 
Full soon he saw rising resentment flush 
Unto my brew in painful flashes rush. 
When his allusions to my worshipped dead 
I felt profaned each gift of heart and head ; 
Hence from the theme with practiced ease he flew, 
And unsuspecting credence with him drew. 
His words all wildly on my organs rang. 
Yet mute I listened, still the siren sang. 
The moving eloquence that graced of old 
The subtle Alcibiades and bold — 
The polished form and mien, the perfect face 
Of Tissaphernes in his fairest days. 
In him were blent, and many a ruined youth 
Will date, like me, the tottering of his truth 
And blight of motive, from the fatal hours 
Which held him captive to the cunning powers. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 39 

Of that despoiler of defenceless trust, 

Whose winning mask could e'en decoy the just. 

'Twas not enough for him to run the race 

Of folly, shame, debauchery and disgrace. 

The novice lad he'd thrust upon the track, 

A lucky lad if reason lead him back. 

The 'wildering wine, as liquid rubies flows — 

The bumper, wreathed with glittering diamonds, glows, 

And lost is he who lifts the sparkling glass. 

Pledges its contents, drains its dregs, alas ! 

One draught's beAvitching vapors fire the brain. 

The glassy eye dilate?, he drinks again ; 

But reaching not the acme of delight, 

Again he sips, but gains not yet the height. 

Perchance a moment Lethe drowns his woes. 

Or meteor gleams some guilty acts disclose ; 

But where's the promised bliss the soul to charm, 

And bring the bruised and bleeding heart a balm ? 

Let ignorance and crime still seeking, sup. 

Experience answers, never in tl' e cup ! 

An easy dupe for artful men whose years 

Should shame their deeds and draw rejDcntant tears, 

I left the books my mother culled and piled 

To be the tutors of her trusted child — 

Heard these warm eulcgics bestowed on wine, 

Th' inspiring oil that makes the man divine — 

The nectar which for deathless Bacchus fiowed. 

And on his vine-clad throne in jewels glowed. 

I raised the beaker with expectant hopes — 

But on my soul how fell the lauded drops? 



40 LOVE AND TRANSITION, 

As Upas dews on fields of opening flowers — 
As autumn frosts on summer's smiling bowers. 
Could I have known a dire and noxious night 
Was gathering o'er my sunny bosom's light, 
And early left the banquet and the throng 
That bore my hazard destinies along, 
I might have 'scaped enticements miry shore 
Which flowers ephemeral lightly garnished o'er ; 
But tapers shining only to beguile, 
Show not the wanderer where he walks the while. 
How fast the aspect darkens ! shall I shun 
The retrospect, as hitherto I've done — 
Invoking Lethe's silent, viewless wave 
Each aw^ful line from memory's scroll to lave ? 
No, by yon setting sun, I here declare. 
For once, the whole to contemplate I'll dare ! 
I'll scan the vortex where my hapless feet 
Went eager forth the reckless club to meet, 
Which gathered nightly round the gaming board, 
To spend their frugal parents' toil-earned hoard. 
There Sidney, Senno, strutted, base as bold, 
And staked their little pyramid of gold. 
Which all the while designed they for my purse, 
Tho' seeming vexed, they wreaked on fate a curse. 
'Twas but a passion for the sport to fire. 
And heat to frenzy what was scarce desire. 
But let them laugh, their cunning inly laud, 
And clutch their triple gains, obtained by fraud ; 
Soon retribution's measure full must be 
Met out to them, worse than 'tis met to me. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. * 4^ 

There poor Delancy, fair as Persian maid, 

His last estate in one wild wager laid — 

And losing all, was sent, a miscreant, forth, 

'Mid bitter taunt and lij) polluting oath. 

On penury's bleak waste was weeping cast, 

Alone to meet its cold and piercing blast. 

All unaccustomed to the toil and strife 

That fill the poor man's tired and tempted life. 

Kepose he knew not, nor a peaceful thought, 

These the lorn maniac never wished or sought ; 

His friends and fortune were forever flown. 

And all of earth away so madly thrown — 

He felt dark infamy enwrapped his name. 

And nought wrecked he what of the rest became. 

O, gratitude ! ever as now abide, 

My sacred comforter, my bosom's pride — 

Remain, the vestal of my inner light. 

And keep thy soul-lamps living, trimmed and bright ; 

A beacon glow, for not quite was I lost, [tossed. 

When friends w^ere wrecked, and on the maelstrom 

Not lost, but ah ! how fallen from the height 

Where moral goodness nerves her matchless might — 

Depressed amid the morbid damps that roll 

Their noxious vapors round the yielding soul. 

So must the li2;ht of gratitude be dimmed — 

The song of joy with mingled grief be hymned, 

And every boon received and pleasure met 

Be half consumed by risings of regret. 

But not to murmur at my harvest fruits. 

Do I indulge the 'plaint my mind that suits ; 



42 " LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

With lavish hand the sesd was widely strown, 

Now be the bramble and the brier my own. 

Nor will I now, my sins to palliate, 

Cast all the blame on those who led my fate ; 

The issue of such course I should have known, 

And timely from the snare-laid path have flown — 

Produced no cause of arrow-panged remorse, 

And 'scaped the penalty just laws enforce. 

Yet, while acknowledging my mildewed hoard. 

Legitimate products, justly reaped and stored, 

I deem the wretch who led unto the held. 

And fearless praised the pleasant fruits 'twould yield. 

More guilty far, more deeply sunk in sin. 

Than the duped boy he basely ushered in. 

Is what I deem untrue? bear witness ye 

AYhose darker deeds incur more misery. 

Does retribution's heavy burden rest 

Upon your heads, does the imbittered breast 

Feel the huge weight of haunting agonies, 

Distracting thoughts, soul-writhing maladies — 

Say, Walford, Dunlay, Eindal, Ross and Snide — 

Bow ye beneath laws changeless, long defied ? 

Or draw ye still the boy, the man, the spouse. 

To the debauch, the revel, the carouse. 

Thoughtless of joys ye wrest with ruthless ban, 

From weak, unwary, and unstable man ? 

What e'er your state, O ! may the prayer of one 

Ye've deeply injured by the race ye've run, 

Reach the dispensing powers and quickly bring 

Your richest blessings on descending wing. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 43 

Go, prosper if ye can, and thrift delight, ' 
Eest, if a slumbering conscience do not smite — 
I've no revenge upon your heads to spend, 
Nor a^k I heaven to maledictions send ; 
Would rathsr ward some heavy bolts away. 
That soon must pierce you and vile pleasures slay. 
Ye made me what for worlds I'd not have been. 
But I'll not add malignity to sin ; 
Not e'en for you shall rise from out my breast, 
How'er I spurn your doings and detest. 
An imprecation or a wish of ill. 
All cruel as ye were, perchance are still. 
Altho' ye've robbed me of the richest prize 
The world e'er set before my searching eyes — 
Made me unworthy to possess or claim 
What more I valued than my once fair name. 

Thou richest prize ! forever lost to me — 
A¥hat worth, what treasure has escaped in thes? 
Nay, from my soul, thou canst not ever flee, 
There rests thy image and thy name, Neveve. 
Thou with the agile air and seraph form, 
And heart as India's summer sunbeams warm. 
Yet pure as Iceland snows, which piled on high 
Meet the borealis in the blazing sky. 

My temples throb again, my weak brain burns 
As thought to all Neveve hai been returns ; 
But I have purposed to survey the past, 
On all its volume's scribbled leaves to cast 



44 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

A full clear gaze, and must not overlook 

The crowning section of the sullied book. 

Had we met earlier in those gladsome days. 

Ere I went hunting woes in worldly ways, 

Her rare example and her lofty love 

Had taught me ne'er from paths of peace to rove. 

But destiny decreed that not till wide 

From prudent ramblings I had roamed aside, 

Should I the dear embodiment behold 

Of that ideal^ fancy-fashioned mould 

Which long had[ been the pure and hidden theme 

Of my most harmless and inspiring dream. 

Then, to behold was to feel from the heart 

A hitherto unfathomed fountain start — ■ 

To hear was to admire and marvel'too. 

Her words were oracles and sweet as true. 

I loved, esteemed, believed, and furthermore 

Deemed it no sacrilege to add, adore ; 

For her pure love's first-kindled rays could shine 

In answer to the best beams known to mine. 

Those wondrous days and seasons, vanished all. 

Electric mind must briefly now recal, 

Tho' ne'r again such time my stars may lend — 

Or I invoke it, since so sad the end. 

Her gentle nature void of roguish art 

Hallowed each spot to my enraptured heart, 

Where with her presence and communion blest 

In walk or ride, diversion, study, rest, 

I felt the value of her gracious smile. 

Yet thought of my unworthiness the while. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



45 



Mem'ry oft turns to those green walks again, 
Forgetful of the interim of pain, 
And goes one garden's rounds clasping the hand 
That trained its vines, in tasteful beauty planned ; 
And feels an influence the soft air pervades 
Sweeter than that shed by the locust shades. 
Again I trace the fair banks of that stream 
Which dancing on with foam and flash and gleam, 
Bore off* the garlands thrown upon its wake 
To the serene and forest-mirrored lake. 
The bloom- wreaths for her brow I loved to twine, 
And feathery willows she inwove for mine 
Endear the waters to whose sport and care 
They Avere consigned when fallen from our hair. 
But not day-visions many-hued and bright, 
Nor spirit-trav'ling dreams of dewy night, 
Have richer colorings on remembrance thrown 
Than mingled strength and softness of her tone ; 
The native, free, and flowing eloquence, 
Unwitting cast, commanding every sense. 
When the heart vibrates to the halcyon swell 
Of love which all its passion promptings quell, 
And wakes emotions highly spiritual, 
As moves the viol's shining, facile strings 
When genius from them melting concord flings, 
A test is given that genuine love has spoken, 
And painted there an everlasting token — 
Imagination's mystic lights and shades. 
And picture galleries were superfluous aids. 
It may be veiled and stilled, here oft it must, 
The palm of action yield, as mine I trust 



4g LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

For good of all will hold hushed that sweet life, 
The genius of deliverance from the strife 
Of man's demoniac dens — the real fay 
Who taught both mind and heart where virtue lay, 
And rolled the rock of ignorance away. 
Hence I may see, work^ even love by truth. 
Make it my faith, regain my withered youth — 
Tho' shams that fill the world and keep it blind 
Surround, I'll rise and leave their rust behind. 
Sooner I could not on this basis stand. 
And feel my mental power in full command. 
And see the piles effete on which men band. 
Me and their children they have only taught 
Their limping steps o'er quicksand, snare and vault. 
Old in their vice but as a freshman green 
In love's great lore, I knelt at void nineteen, 
Experimentally to learn, nor guessed 
But this on that could permanently rest. 

Now I bethink me of a ramble ta'en — 

My worshipped one was in the merry train ; 

'Twas on a cool and lovely summer day, 

And our companions wandering away, 

Left us beside the solemn voiced cascade, 

Where silver sheet to snowy wreaths was made. 

Calling our wonder where the rampart set. 

Of during rock, o'er which fierce waters fret. 

A fallen poplar's pearly trunk our seat. 

The spiry moss fresh cushioning our feet. 

We watched the waves sweep off in trail on trail, 

Adown the peaceful and prolific vale. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 47 

The scene sublime invoked from head and heart 
The tribute of a fertile counterpart ; 
And the calm creature prattling in my ear 
Of things around with thought so full and clear, 
Gave witness that the thousand charms combined 
Were mirrored back from her well laden mind. 
Rich was the music of my satiate soul, 
For sweet affections sounds harmonic stole 
Along its thrilling chords, and tarrying brought 
A tuneful flow of concentrated thought. 
Not sober manhood counting daily gains, 
With face distorted by protracted pains. 
Could chide or censure that such rich control, 
Should passive find me both in part and whole — 
Make me a lyre whose fine and flexile chords 
In rapture rose if touched by Ne've's words. 
Yet, reason would have said its music tones 
Must soon give place to woe's life-wasting moans, 
And the lithe numbers counting joys untold, 
Become but anguish chants, in loneness rolled — 
Would have decided that my fro ward ways 
A barrier soon to all my plans would raise — 
And sink the star of our ecstatic hope 
Of nearing bliss, and a dark vista ope. 
Where more than spectral desolation reigned, 
And life's sour dregs in lone despair were drained. 
And thus it vras — short time sufficed to show 
The sickening contrast of consuming wo. 
And the delight a charmer's smiles impart 
To the youngs trustful and uncultured heart. 



48 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Dark clouds that held the tempest met above. 

Hiding the skies of light and sun of love — 

Before me loomed the vapors that I loathed. 

And all my bodings in full sable clothed ; 

While just behind a blooming field was spread 

At whose high entrance, no return, I read. 

And, fast receding from each empty hand, 

Beamed the bright Eden, yet the forfeit land. 

Alas what myriads pass that crucible 

Flowing unto it with young heart-hopes full — 

Yet, worse the smelting ordeal must be 

When marriage binds to dross and foul debris, 

Before law's tireless blow-pipe to expire, 

Knowing of live-ore 'tis no purifier, 

And but intensifies a torturing fire, 

While tenfold magnifying all party ire. 

Eumor is many-voiced and rapid-winged — 

As wild seeds driven before the rushing wind, 

Which, where they chance to light, take root and 

spread. 
And countless shoots make each a fruitful head — ■ 
Or as cont igion sweeping cities o'er, 
Infecting most those indisposed before • 
So rumor flies, and readiest access finds 
Among contracted and imbecile minds. 
Thus villa, town, and neighboring country thro', 
The tidings of my heinous habits flew — 
Many believed, &ome doubted, one denied. 
And wept in sympathy that the world belied. 
Who says 'tis strange that love the last should be 
The sin of its most cherished one to see ? 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 49 

They who know not its workings, deep and strong, 

Its firm unwillingness to credit wrong. 

I know not what my changing cheek betrayed 

When she to soothe my stricken breast essayed ; 

But mute my lips remained beneath the stroke, 

Nor word of censure or approval spoke, 

Until her friends produced convincing proof 

Of what I was, and justly stood aloof. 

And she, amazed to scan my midnight heart, 

Felt the clear noonday from her own depart. 

Then, all confessing, humbly I resigned 

The rights reciprocal affection twined, 

And, as in j)enance hour, the self-condemned 

Is by his guilt and fancied doom o'erwhelmed, 

So I in frenzy bade her me command. 

Spare, spurn, or punish my polluted hand — 

Her will I'd do, my sentence beai% my fate. 

The worst I'd earned, scorn, banishment or hate. 

Awhile her tongue prophetic silence chained, 

Her still eyes told in their clear depths how painea 

The rending thoughts that strove within and threw 

On brow and cheek the changeful carmine hue ; 

Her nerveless hands unclasped upon her breast 

Where they to still its throb bings high were pressed. 

At length, the struggle conquered, with the power 

Of woman's matchless strength in trial hour. 

She sat as colorless, calm, fair and still 

As Parian marble wrought by sculptor's skill, 

And with no sigh, sob, tear or frown revealed, 

Keplied, ' I pardon that you so concealed 



50 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

From me your naughty doings, till my heart 
Was of yourself inseparable part, — 
Your better gifts and love feared to disclose 
What proves the source of our long, wearing woes. 
Go, you are young, reform your ways, and then 
A station take 'mongst honorable men, 
If any can be founvl within God's ken. 
Wash from your otherwise superior soul 
The fulsome stains that make as nought the whole. 
What e'er my own of aberrations hath. 
It knows not shame's or crime's remorseful scath, 
And tho' 'tis left with broken joy and aim 
The lonely dweller of a falling frame, 
Whisp'ring affections flow but to the breeze 
Which naught returns but gales that chill and freeze, 
It cannot lay upon an altar fraught 
With sacrifices sensual hands have brought. 
The precious offerings it stores and yearns 
To consecrate where righteousness returns. 
Go, and forsake all vices I beseech,' 
(Here filled her eye, and fait' ring was her speech,) 
' For your sake do I ask it — miike your life 
What once I deanied it, with ail virtues rife, 
And 'scape a living death of pangs and strife ; 
My warmest wish and prayer are still for you. 
E'en love, must long — may ever be — adien !' 
Long had I imaged her than woman more, 
But then she shone more saintly than before. 
I felt that for her ease I all couJd leave, 
And soon my fallen honors well retrieve. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 5]^ 

Alas, how weak are boy's resolves, how strong 
The force of habits given indulgence long; — 
I Avill not on my broken pledges dwell, 
My many j^erjured vows — some direful spell 
With adamr.ntine strength seized on me all. 
My wholesome dictates making weak and small. 
And now I think the club-gang willed the thrall. 
The older heads knew well how to inflame 
The despots in us that hold reason tame — 
Mentally they dwarf, morally they maim. 
Still was I what the vaunted popular term 
The whole-souled gentleman, ingenuous, firm — 
What thousands are who still with pompous mien, 
In fashion's halls the courted guests are seen — 
What are majorities who churches fill, 
And tho' exposed, deem sacraments screen still — 
What are the most who walk distinguished ways 
And hold of good and fair the favoring gaze ; 
What foul throngs will be while the good and fair, 
As if in countenance of the shame they share, 
The cordial hands extend, the smiles bestow, 
And but approval virtually show. 
When false opinions flee the public mind. 
And wealth and rank their proper levels find — 
When vice in guildings looks as vice in dross, 
And worse, from contrast with its garb of gloss, 
Thon will depravity be undisguised, 
And humble worth be duly sought and prized ; 
Then will the erring turn to duty's way. 
And priceless virtues all their toil repay. 



52 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

My days were dark, dark nigkt-reflections too, 
No ray no gleam my haunted spirit knew, 
Save the consuming, meteoric flame 
That with the club's sickly excitement came. 
Often I saw my degradation clear 
And gave to tender thought contrition's tear ; 
In serious meditation on my state, 
I inly feared some sad, impending fate — • 
I felt how much I'd lost of happiness, 
Of peace and rest and pure domestic bliss. 
Domestic bliss ! what wraith untold displays 
That small, yet great, and mighty meaning phrase ? 
How few, compared to the world's wretched mass, 
Have tasted yet the blessed boon, alas ! 
How fewer still, have it preserved and prized 
Thro' weal and wo, and kept it undisguised ? 
I saw the man of sinfulness, like me, 
Trudge o'er his devious rounds of misery- 
He knew his life was as the troubled sea, 
Up casting mire and bane continually ; 
Yet knew not how the turbid waves to purge, 
Or stay the fury of the poisonous surge. 
I saw, but here and there, a man whoso life 
Remained unsullied by the vices rife — 
His home with plenty, peace and love was crowned, 
And joyous fri3nds, a few, could him surround. 
At tinics I yearned such even life to know. 
Such home to share, such bounty to bestow, 
Such rest receive, thro' words and smiles as sweet 
As those that burst and beamed his own to meet. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 53 

But vain my cravings and compunctions, while 

On every side beset by comrades vile ; 

With whom I hand in hand so long had traced 

The rough defile that soul and sense debase;!; 

And while each lost, invaluable prize 

Glittered so near my more than maddened eyes. 

Health fast was wasting, strength was ebbing low, 

From heart and cheek had faded youth's bright glow : 

My wonted haunts would oft my spirit mock. 

And mirth its promptings paralyze or shock ; 

No sweet response could o'er its askings roll — 

Tho' fallen far, I felt I had a soul ! 

The great need was a real man, a friend. 

My power executive to brace, and blend 

Its inspirations with the higher grade 

Of functions dozing in the vapors raised. 

Maltreating passions in the lower layer, 

Where centered action is the whole man's slayer. 

But never man or friend or better brother 

Took my weak hand to aid th' attending mother 

Who could but feebly mind and will impress 

While bound by that strong, clinging worldliness. 

Yet, in my being love a tower had reared 

Higher than my filial palace ; both insphered 

A rich domain where, in my calmest hours, 

Beamed loving comfort, cheering my best powers. 



At length I summoned every dormant nerve 
And latent energy that will might serve, 



54 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



And with resolves immutable in might, 

Rent crowding darkness, and emerged from night, 

Just able to hold fast th' increasing light. 

Of all I cared for hasty leave was ta'en, 

And soon was sought the broad and briny main. 

With half my substance squandered, with my heart 

Abused, half-chilled, inured to sigh and smart, 

I left my native shore, my verdant hills, 

My river bowers, my breezy groves and rills. 

Without a moan. I felt as if released 

From awful exile, as if then had ceased 

The dreadful influence of some demon charm. 

And freed from hair-breadth danger, high-hand harm. 

My bosom owned and nursed a dear relief. 

Like the first breaking of long brooding grief, 

And tho' my wildly fluttering heart was reft. 

And all its wounds had bleeding fissures left, 

Tho' fever frolicked in my floating brain, 

And thirst unquenched corroded every vein, 

Hope, in the distance, shadowy and dark, 

Beheld a ray, and pointed to the spark ; 

And resolution, victor of the strife, 

The vampire held that battened on my life. 

Away the vessel with its hajDpy crew, 

Like bird in air on the bright billows flew ; 

And, as from sight the last green point of land 

Was wholly lost, I laid a trembling hand 

Upon my breast, and firmly said, adieu, 

My blooming country, I have been untrue 

To your best charms, and ne'er will look again 

On that rich coast where freedom ought to reign. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 55 

Till I can gaze and say I'm wholly free 

From flagrant appetite's captivity. 

But you, O ! land of many boasts must make 

Amends most honorable ere you take 

On yourself the assurance to demand 

Of son or daughter clean-washed foot or hand. 

I owe you no apology, but you do me. 

This is your journey I take o'er the sea. 

Too much you've copied king-land's pompous air.j, 

And filled with bubble's space f ^r solid wares. 

Great share of all your heads are worse than empty, 

Those w^ith truth freighted are not one in twenty. 

The swells are tutors and the pupils bloat 

With vanities more than can deftly float, 

While principle is treated as a mote. 

Your institutions, from the capitol 

To school and hearth, are so fictitious all. 

That Truth, to live, her temple must forestall. 

Your common customs fit some selfish sect, 

Party or scheme, 'tis puzzling to detect 

A right intent to rest a hope upon. 

Or law of nature used where one has gone. 

So seldom one lives truth, leaves sham and ton. 

Your usual discipline, gen'ral example. 

Makes avarice tyrannous, all vices ample, 

You pet hypocrisy and goodness scout, 

So I, to practise only good, sail out, 

A caution often given you, no doubt. 

The blue Atlantic soon to me was calm, 
Tho' lashed in surges, every breeze was balm 



56 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

To my sick senses, and in flying fast, 

No ' longing lingering look ' was backward cast. 

In foreign climes where wealth and art conspire 

To rear their structures than the moimtains higher, 

Where ancient trophy won from mighty foe 

Make gorgeous temples and great halls o'erflow, 

A short sojourn my troubled mind transferred 

To other scenes, and other sympathies stirred. 

I viewed the land of cities, vines and flowers, 

Long famed for purple skies and matchless bowers, — 

With mingled feelings, it was rich to scan 

The lavish luxuries poured out to man, 

To see the eye of conscious bliss dilate, 

And hear the voice of music bless the fate 

That filled the heart wuth joy, the hand with more 

Of good and glowing gifts than it could store ; 

But it was misery to behold some wild 

And Bacchal revels that the man defiled — 

To see the ruby goblet freely poured, 

And luring glitter on the vintner's board. 

Of such festivities I'd known the blight. 

And from the wine-cup felt the viper's bite. 

Relic and statue, monument and fane, 

Temple and trophy of the storied slain, 

Paintings grotesque and grand, art's gorgeous hall, 

Were fair to view, and yet, not pleasing all^ 

They told of war, of treachery and blood. 

Of plain and ambush 'ne|ith the sanguine flood ; 

But then, my aim and object well were gained. 

Great truths were lodged, and valued lore attained ; 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 57 

And each new impress from remembrance cast 

Some haunting image of the cheating past. 

At length I wearied of the olden world 

Where regal emblem every flag unfurled, 

Where crown and mitre swayed th' unwilling heart, 

And made the hand perform the vassal's part — 

Where sordid rank and luxury unite, 

And o'er meek penury loud vaunt their might ; 

And with a frown for cruel tyranny — 

A tear for want and weeping misery — 

A smile for beauties bounteous nature flung 

'Round the rich scenes I'd lost some cares among, 

Again I launched upon the swelling deep, 

And bade its waves lull my last wo to sleep. 

From isle to isle arrayed in deathless green. 

Where vintage hoards and constant bloom is seen, — 

My gaily bark disported, seeming blest. 

As the bi^ight dolphin on the billow's crest. 

West India's fertile islands next appeared — • 

My pulses quickened as their shores I neared — 

So near my own dear land, — why should I stay, 

And longer on the wing throw time away ? 

I had been chastened— half that I had sought 

Was surely gained — the rest might yet be bought. 

Not long I tarried on those summer isles — 

There love thro' nature in its richness smiles, 

And many a listless, plodding man beguiles. 

They sang to me the song of every land — 

A paradise awaits a happy band 

Of true-souled human saints in peace to stand. 



58 



I.OVE AND TRANSITION. 



With these full thoughts I left Carabian's tide, 
Washing its hundred shores with monarch pride, 
And steering northward, fate or fortune threw 
Me on this coast, and to this bower me drew. 
In Georgia's softest light and sweetest dew." 



L.OVE AND TRANSITION. 



59 



EPIILOGUE TO MEDITATION. 



" And here I remain in the dew-dripping leaves, 
Yet my nerves do not shake in the night's chilly breeze. 
The moon is on high in her mantle of fire, 
And bi"ight stars are bidding me quick to retire. 
In my chamber's bared window a single lamp glows, 
Beseeching and warning me there to repose. 
An angel, if angel incarnate can be, 
A guardian saint, lights that taper for me. 
My Flavia, thy kind heart's devotional care 
Shall not pass unheeded while mine hath a prayer. 
Rest calmly, blest being, a seraph's eye keeps 
Good watch by the couch where such loveliness sleeps. 
I'll haste to the beacon thy lofty tower holds, 
And seek for refreshment in slumber's sweet folds." 



QQ LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



THE KENEWAL. 

The morning dawned all clear and bright. 
And poured its floods of Orient light ; 
His curtains glowed in crimson beams, 
Yet saw blest Lindale but in dreams, 
For on him settled sleep as mild 
As that which soothes the cradled child. 
The matin bell thrice vainly pealed, 
To outward sound his sense was sealed ; 
A wearied nature, overwrought. 
In respite reparation sought ; 
And mind made placid by review 
Which found him still to duty true. 
Imbibed the breath by Somnus blown. 
And ne'er before such sleep he'd known. 
But one whose ear no sound repaid 
For that his coming foot-fall made, 
Save the sweet accents of his tongue 
Where more than music's pathos hung. 
Fearing his silence boded ill, 
Was all anxiety until 
At length her favorite page she sent 
To learn what his rare absence meant, 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. gl 

Who soon returning, glad confessed 
He'd roused him from his rosy rest. 
He rose with heart as lark's wing light, 
And eye as ray of sapphire bright, 
With voice as mellow, soft and clear 
As flute notes on the atmosphere ; 
With step as buoyant as the bird 
That earliest in the coppice stirred ; 
And hastening for a dear good morrow, 
No thought to sickness gave or sorrow, 
As well attested glance and smile 
That lit his coloring cheek the while. 
And Flavia's answering look bespoke 
The mutual joy his warmth awoke. 
She saw a change had o'er him passed. 
And all his hopes in noonlight cast, 
Like spring-time o'er the northern zone 
Whence winter clouds have quickly flown. 
And right she recked, no longer he 
A puzzling mystery should be, 
A book whose characters seemed plain 
When first thereof a view was ta'en, 
But which to hieroglyphics turned, 
Ere well a dazzling line was learned. 
If truth the sons of song inspires 
When feeling's fingers sweep the lyres — 
If truth proclaims the graphic pen 
'Neath the romancer's wizard ken — 
If truth tells the historic page 
Of every nation clime and age, — 



52 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

If true the fond imaginings 
Which rapture to the young heart brings, 
Then there are times when it forgets 
Each thorn that life's mixed way besets — 
When every object smiles and glows 
In beams its sunny self bestows ; 
And every ray and tone seems given 
To swell the bliss of earth's bright heaven. 
Such season Lindale then enjoyed, 
No cumbrous cares his mind annoyed ; 
He looked not on the misty past 
Which had so oft dense shadows cast, 
But, from the beamy present whence 
Nought save delight rose on each sense. 
Gazed thro' the future foldings bright 
And set each bliss in fadeless light. 
And those rare blessings were not shed 
On soul to grateful impulse dead. 
For ne'er as then had reverent love 
For all that's high and great above 
Found the full life-refreshing flow, 
And left such pure and generous glow — 
Ne'er yet had nature seemed to raise 
From every leaf such gladsome praise — 
Ne'er had she with such rapture smiled, 
Nor worn such beauty undefiled, 
Seeming with countless tongues to say 
To all that's heavenly, let us pray ! 
Thus flew the time — gathered no cloud 
His mind's horizon fair to shroud ; 



LOVE AND TRANSITION, 



63 



The day with halcyon pleasures blest, 

The night conferred serenest rest ; 

And more his happiness to swell, 

And brighten all the rays that fell, 

From fanci. d future joys which seemed 

Like stars which near and nearer beamed. 

He conscious of their presence felt — 

Prized the rich peace which round him dwelt, 

The peace which in him hourly grew, 

And which from contrast well he knew. 

The past no longer memory pained — 

As victor,all its fears he'd chained — 

Its wrongs to lessons prized he'd turned — 

The use of two loves clearly learned ; 

Had each a hallowed sphere assigned ; 

This more of heart, that more of mind^ 



g4 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



THE CONFESSION. 

Again when amber eve advanced, 

And o'er the West rich colors danced, — 

When softly blew the Southern breeze 

And nestled in the clustering leaves. 

Our Lindale walked 'mong founts and flowers, 

Geranium scents and arching bowers ; 

Yet not alone he chose to stray. 

As once he'd done at close of day. 

There hung upon his firmer arm 

A sylph whose every grace and charm 

The new blown rose might emblem forth, 

Tho' faintly speak the inborn worth. 

He purposely the winding took 

That ended in the arbored nook 

Where sat he but a month before. 

His sins and sufierings conning o'er. 

And there on bank with bloom inlaid 

He seated by his side the maid 

Whose every act, tho' artless quite, 

Was that of genius in his sight. 

Then, with an air which to portray, 

The effort were all thrown away — 

('Twas staid, calm, coy, yet plain in view 

Was hope, was joy, assurance too,) 

He held her hand on his full breast. 

And thus the listening fair addressed. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

" My Flavia, that I've loved thee long 

Needs not my formal words to tell, 
For thou can'st not interpret wrong 

My pleasure while with thee I dwell, 
And I will not affect to be 

To thy most prized affection blind, 
It were ingratitude in me, 

Than thou hast been to be less kind. 
But ere I ask thee to resign 

In any form this precious hand, 
To be as lover, wholly mine, 

Thy niind all free, thy love the band. 
Conscience demands that I declare 

What haply thou to know hast yearned, 
My history since maternal care 

My youthful steps toward wisdom turned ; 
What urged me on when lone I left 

Bright Hudson's storied cliffs and dear — 
What caused me long to feel bereft 

Where all were kind and constant here. 
Yet fear not, dear, from what I say, 

As rapidly I seem to read, 
That I again can fall a\Yay 

From pure design and upright deed. 
My judgments ^ore but just have been. 

For wandering wide endured I long ; 
Now rise I from repented sin, 

Feeling in right and duty strong." 
He paused, and closer to his breast 
The yielding hand in fondness pressed; 



65 



(Jg LOVE AND TRANSITION, 

But self-collected still remained — 
His mien, liio wonted tone retained; 
And more he seemed a victor proud, 
Upbuoyed by acclamations loud, 
Than a confessor, self-accused, 
At shrine to sin's approach unused. 
The maiden blanched, and gently sunk 
Against a cedar's vine-clad trunk. 
But quickly changed her varying cheek, 
To swoon were far for her too weak ; 
Her downward gaze one blossom sought. 
Betokening deep and fruitful thought ; 
And from her lips these low words fell, 
" Thy story all and truly tell." 
A sadder cast assumed his face, 
Revealing changeful sorrow's trace ; 
Tumultuous rush from brain to heart. 
Their workings faithful to impart. 
Upon each earnest feature strayed. 
But most in restless glances played. 
Awhile his thoughts chaotic seemed. 
Which just ran clear, and even beamed. 
But merit hath enduring powder 
To press its suit in trying hour; 
Love too is eloquent to plead 
Its weighty cause and claim its meed ; 
When once it gets command of voice. 
And blushes bend to bravery's choice ; 
And soon confusion's heralds fled, 
Announcing conflicts quieted, 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. ^7 

As far as may be when is sought 

A boon with priceless value fraught, 

And when is offered best that's given 

To deathless souls in earthly heaven. 

In voice subdued, and low at first, 

He well the retrospect rehearsed 

Which held him at the bower erewhile, 

When he forsook his lady's smile, 

And there indulged one lonely eve 

Reflections rife with facts that grieve, 

Lest his own heart itself deceive. 

The listening maiden's moveless eyes, 

Still on a pansy, veiled replies 

Her soul thro' them would have exposed, 

As he the touching tale disclosed : 

And he could but her feelings guess 

Of pleasure's gush or pain's excess, 

By fitful gleams that floated o'er 

Her features paler than before. 

She seemed some decked Madonna brought 

From Florence-galleries, jewel wrought. 

With face lit by the changeful flare 

Of golden lamps still gliding there, 

And faintly tinged by glowing paints 

On walls of pictured gods and saints. 

The story told, no part concealed, 

Vice, love and grief, alike revealed, 

Lindale leaned back, as calmly mute. 

And marble-like, as o'er his lute 

The sculptured muse of Greece reclined. 

When Passion laughed to mock the Mind, 



68 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Alas, how little times improve ! 

Who aids the rule of mind to-day ? 
The kings of ehurch are on the move 

To gag and chain those who assay 

To teach or live a virtuous way. 

Bound passion's pref 'rence to preserve. 
Twilight had fled, and from the West 
Had fallen the Iris-woven vest ; 
Still silence reigned within the bower, 
Till Luna rising, told the hour — 
Beamed on the statues there retired, 
And them anew with tongues inspired — ■ 
When Lindale, first to break the spell, 
Commenced, " can now my Flavia tell. 
If to her heart unscathed by ill. 

Mine, my tried love, can dearest be 
Of all that earth's full nations fill, 

Its cont'nents wide and isles of sea ? 
Can she believe my good amends 

For early frailties can atone — 
That pains compunction's arrow sends 

Have every venal wish o'erthrown ? 
Can she my future honor trust — 

My life regenerate aid and bless, 
When Phenix-like, from common dust 

I rise fidelity to press, 
And set my face against all lust ? 

This new-born love above all else 
I'll cherish, if it then shall tear 

Away, to thee I'll first confess> 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. gg 

It's every symptom, timely, square — 

Seek thy good counsel, both to bless, 
Disposing of our changing selves. 

More would deception on thee cast, 
As the wild world of wicked elves 

Have ever done, at first and last. 
Truth to his soul is all a man 
May promise, all an angel can. 
Some items of philosophy 

I've caught with the heart-heaving wrenches, 
And have been looking deep to see 

What stupor 'tis that marriage drenches. 
But first Neveve dropped me the clue 

From her clear thought and quick perception, 
And I'd not plead my cause as true, 

If in being bound I'd be exception. 
Wedlock's an old rite meant to hold 

Woman in bonds, man will be free 
Far as he can, and not be sold 

In his old play of, seem to he ; 
This has made him a skulk so small 

That manhood can't expand within — • 
And her so feeble in th.e thrall. 

That both to see the truth begin, 
And learn equality for all 

Alone can mend the monstrous sin. 
Just like the world of common men 

I was before my reformation, 
The world of girls admired me then. 

We fooled each other with flirtation. 



YO LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Marriage would not have changed my course, 

Even with Neveve, she knew it well — 
But her great character so rose 

In ruling love by principle, 
I saw the mighty good of truth 

And truth of good, their excellence, 
Which should be deep instilled in youth, 

And dwell life's pillar and defence. 
Had she been like the average girl. 

None would have cared to make a jar 
About my mixing in their whirl — 

But, thank them, we are saved, ha, ha ! 
Dear, does my story fright away 

The dove I'd nearer draw, and make 
So blest she'd like the nestling stay, 

Tho' free the wing its flight to take ? 
Let me believe that all the past 

She will forgive, the half forget, 
Save moments flown so sweet so fast, 

Since we with souls responsive met — 

Comes not her tones of music yet ?" 
"I'll answer, but conjure thee first, 

Tell w^herefore turn'st thou not to her 
For whom thy earliest love was nursed, 

And there confess, and there confer 
A life retrieved, a heart renowned ? 

Neveve most truly loved thee then- 
May still be tenderly imbued, 

And yet more fully be again !" 
"That subject has been duly weighed — 

Was settled in this hallowed bower, 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 'Jl 

When the whole case was open laid 

And her love proved the friendly power 
Mine to unfold in truth and light, 

To clear and raise to its pure dower — 
My mind to quicken in the right — ■ 

Rouse courage equal to the hour. • 

She was to be the zenith star 

To guide me out of mire and frost ; 
To draw back others tempted far, 

And her reward will not be lost. 
I was perplexed till this was clear, 

But meditation gave decision — ■ 
My worthy triumph stated here, 

To me is an impressive vision. 
My earthly angel is Keveve, 

My human darling, Flavia — 
Could e'er Neveve the darling be, 

I could not render equally ; 
For once her confidence has reeled. 

Assurance full can come no more ; 
Fear that again my strength might yield 

Would cloud loves heaven with shadows o'er, 
Its balmy atmosphere infest. 
And both of perfect peace divest." 



72 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



FLAVIA'S EESPONSE. 

" I see the point, the argument — 

Thy stripped position in that case ; 
Even if robed with love intent, 

Thy friend could not commend the place. 
I see Neveve a matchless Avoman, 

Uprising in these crucial times, 
To aid the hedged and hapless human 

Thro' crisis caldron's foamy slimes — 
Will ever bless her and her mission, 

That in my spirit ring these chimes 

Thro' the rich test that thee sublimes. 
And thou hast lodged there several notes 

That send along the strain their trills ; 
And in each mental chamber floats 

A star whose new rays overfil. 
Hence thought some little tin\e requires 

To range the chords, the tune, the harp — 
If empress of all my desires, 

I'll know its place has flat, has sharp — 

So much for just the singing heart. 
Then, mind — who reasons clearly once. 

Sees it the individual's monarch — 
When not, there must be slave or dunce ; 

And I must look well to the main-mark 

I follow, or lay down for man's march. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 73 

I've read somewhat of freedom's rise 

Of late, and looked most carefully 
On common customs — my surprise 

Redoubled interest — prayerfully 
I watched the workings of the ties, 

And saw them altogether tangled — 
The people using not their eyes, 

But reaching forth, and getting mangled, 
Simply because their parents had, 

And left the webs all thickly spread, 
O'er which the child, tho' seeing them bad, 

Must learn to take its stumbling tread, 

With frequent bruise on dodging head. 
Like my exemplars, I felt small 

At thought of clearing out a road 
Where one might safely walk, and call 

The good and wise to pave it broad. 

For all the staggering multitude. 
It should be done, no doubt, and will, 

Tho' strong carnality oppose, 
Tearing up flagging, track and sill, 

Like thief who on the railway goes : 
But evil-daring they must be — 

Now ignorance will not them screen, 
As some, deemed olden bigotry 

Did wretches who fired fagots green. 
They see the right, they know the truth 
Time's test will bear for age and youth. 
Thy views have given assurance much — 

My brain is all aglow^ in thought — • 



74 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



My heart is answering th' soft touch 

Thine has it thro' my fingers brought. 
Just how 'twill suit me to unite, 

Lone search must tell, as it told thee, 
Excuse a full response to-night — 

'Tis truly blessing to be free. 
But come, my love, the dews are chill, 

Let's hasten from the bower away — 
Of slumber now embrace thy fill. 

Give rest and peace delicious sway — 
Ere long, if it shall please thee still 

To woo, I'll finish out my lay." 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 75 



FLAVIA'S DECISION. 

" Now, Lindale, if of toil thou'st tired, 

Of watching fields full stored, or cleared, 
Come to the floral bower, admired. 

And likely to become revered : 
Thou'st waited patiently I think, 
Nor nudged my mind by word or wink." 
"Allow no merit, dear, for this, 
Thou'st stayed each morn by faithful kiss — • 
My further thought came not amiss. 
Am ready for the rich result 
Of all thou'st found to re-consult. 
And glad thou'st chosen beamy morning 
To fill me with delight or warning." 
" Well, here we are — what matchless awning 

This rose-gemmed roof" — " it is divine." 
" There is thy former seat, here mine — 
We're bound to ever know our places, 
Learning by practice in this line. 
Whether we'll worry in free traces 
Or grow in restful, real graces. 
I first examined legal codes — 

With gen'ral usage them compared — 
3* 



7g LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Saw men ignore, when they proved loads, 

Adhere, when by them they were spared- 
Yet ask and rabidly demand 

That wives the uttermost observe — 
Claim when temptation came to hand, 

'Twas hardly gallant not to swerve : 
Besides seductions, chanced and planned, 

Lay all along laws they conserve. 
I saw the maid has but to choose 

Between three kinds of prostitution — 
The public, which compelled into, 

Being betrayed at first, and rushed on — 
There scorned by both the other sorts. 

And all the males together classed, 
Diff 'ring from her, in making sports 

Of vice so deathly, on her cast, 

That soon it slays of life the last. 
The private, where for life she's bound 

To bear the burdens one man wills ; 
And on his nature it is found 

Depends the little good that fills 

Her cup, which gall, at best, distills. 
The celebate, where to escape 

The other forms, a better chooses — 
Avoids the pit, the plague, the rape. 

But her dear love a mate refuses — 

I wonder women all don't choose this. 
Law has the whole affair one-sided, 

Duplicity it warps again — • 
For change no measures are provided ; 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 77 

Yet progress ought to act on men, 

When women its upheavals ken. 
Marriage gives license, but intrigue 

Works thro' it evils many more — 
I looked it thro' repeatedly, 

And life's great uses pondered oer — 
Then said, this scheme must have arisen 

In barb'rous times, and needs transition. 
The other customs mingling in, 

Are like it, complex fields of sin. 
Investigation spots them all — 
Reason and truth for better calk 
In wedlock I'd not chance my fate 
With all the love in man's estate — 
Would sooner let my Lindale go, 
Than him involve in certain wo. 
The only useful phase revealed 

In marriage is, it rends the mask — 
Whate'er the seeker had concealed 

Comes to the surface quite unasked — 
That is, the temper, boorishness — 

Amours are hid to get the last. 
The best home help through selfishness. 
Few years a husband proves him more 
Than proves a wooer years a score. 
Home from the heart the visor tears, 
Sordid and secret motive bares. 
With many an impulse which in vain 
The world might seek to disenchain ; 
Yet, seeing there, saves not the wife 
Tied to a nature gruff for life. 



78 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

If freedom matches learn full late 
Some evils threatening sorry fate, 
There's privilege, at least, to save 
What's left of one from wretched grave ; 
My verdict here I strongly gave. 
With parents then I long advised, 

And much confirming strength obtained ; 
They were not shocked, or e'en surprised, 

In view of wives with life-powers drained, 

That I'd the equal status gained. 
They liked the union I proposed — 

Assisted in the one I've planned, 
A little contract interposed 

Between thee and my yielded hand — 
Mutation's touch being everywhere. 
And deigning not pure love to spare. 
By it fair justice is insured. 

Each has good self reliance shown, 
Having to self the dower secured. 

In which we are free to say — my own. 
If children claim our home to share, 
Our blended lives and features wear ; 
Sons may thy name, daughters mine bear, 
And for them equally we'll care. 
If either of us ever see 

Our mutual joys dissolve or die. 
Our presence painful, wearily 

The time and love moans murmur by, 
The other willingly will say, 

My friend, thy love and freedom's flown ; 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

'Tis bondage longer here to stay ; 

Take some good path that seems thy own. 
In such case children are their mother's 

Unless they'r sons of seven years, 
And then, especially if they're brothers, 

'Tis gen'rous that the choice be theirs. 
This, we're to sign and pledge our honor, 

Since marriage we've no conscience for. 
What wilt thou add, or what erase ? 

'Tis simply drawn for thy inspection — 
To judge by thy expressive face, 

I'd say thou'rt raising no objection." 
" 'Tis wisely done, and pleases well, 

I'd not expunge a line or letter ; 
All honor that my soul doth swell 

Will sign and seal, ask nothing better." 
" One more w^ord, parents us invite 

To tarry in their mansion amjjle — 
Without us they'd be lonely quite, 

And we want them and their example." 
" Just as they wish, I love them well, 
Where'er thou wilt, there will I dwell ; 
To leave this bowser would but presage 
A very frequent pilgrimage." 



79 



gQ LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



NEVEVE'S MISTAKE. 

Neveve's free searching mind evolved the soul ; 

Not books alone her teachers ; wide unrolled 
Lay nature's varied and inviting scroll. 

And space, orb-peopled, great truths grandly told. 

Accepted inspiration robed in bloom 

The knowledge powers unfolding gathered in ; 

The lore victorious over death and gloom ; 

The light showing real sweets ne'er lurk in sin. 

Before such light and logic terror fled, 

Tho' myth and mystery modified remained: 

Strange that old errors, superstition bred. 

Are still by bigots and duped crowds sustained. 

Books are authorities to one who dreads 

Responsibilities, w^ho rather trust 
The old time scribes or later school-crammed heads 

Warped by crude standards crumbling back to dust. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. §;[ 

Long as fear stifles thoughts advancing flights, 
And priests control the people's wills and deeds, 

Culturing conscience under Sabbath rites, 
Like pagans old, so long must human needs 

Cry loud for liberty, so long men's rules 
Make cruel masters ; slavery must exist, 

And customs false and vicious be the schools 
That poison youth ere it can wrong resist, 

Or on pure life as a birth right insist ; 

Hence grows up gathering knowledge for a show, 
Not for good use, that would dispraise enlist — 

Folly would laugh and Vanity say no ! 

And worse foes still oppose transition's course — 
Prejudice guards old ways as sacred things — 

Selfishness knows its sin, but threatens force — 
And love of ease lies down by thermal springs. 

So childhood, left presuming on the dower 

Of the strange love its nature has outwrought, 

Shrinks from inquiry, gains no guiding power, 

And learns in tears what should have been we] 
taught. 

And should it wisdom ask of sober age, 

'Twould learn as much as its apt queries do, 

AVhen in its view the creeds confuse the page. 
As text does chapter, all the record through. 



82 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

But th' nineteenth century has souls evolved, 
Strong, practical, brave, earnest and humane ; 

And, midst the ire of craft, its riddle solved. 
Are making truth and revelation plain. 

Since shown that good works is religion pure, 
Not faith in blood or water, Christs or popes, 

'No wrath but man's to placate or endure, 
And pious gloom gives place to joyous hopes, 

'Tis found as good to reason on dear love, 
Discriminate 'tween it and passion dire — ■ 

Direct its blindness till its saneness prove 
The peaceful cure of lust's sin-sick desire. 

Man will learn happiness when healed, progressed 

To right belief in woman's equal voice, 
Not sacrificing her to his behest, 

Murd'rous and false, and perish in his choice- 
Like wicked David, far too long upheld, 

As God's own servant, tho' the pure it shocks, 
Sample in lighter times to priests impelled 

By baseness to make harems of their flocks. 

Sins sacred held were being scanned, denied — 
The higher law was animating thought — 

Era of woman, woman-prophesied. 

Had dawned with promise of rich blessings fraught; 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. gg 

When midway in the century's changeful round 
Neveve's experience led her active mind 

To study law in human nature found, 

Detect infringements, and true habits find. 

Investigation ivas her main resource — 

Thought free and fearless, to be well assured — 

Somewhat like mathematics things must course, 
Or facts array by some fair proof secured. 

Moral philosophy was her strong forte ; 

To learn a truth, was its commands to live — 
Cheerful as birds that 'raong spring blooms disport. 

Loving and craving such as she could give. 

Ten years of culturing thought had o'er her passed. 
Since the deep fount of her young love first flowed ; 

She deemed her heart in science was recast — 
Could love, and give love's grief no long abode. 

The trial came, another pair of eyes. 

Like full, deep wells of feeling, beamed on hers. 
Leaving such impress as the will defies. 

And opposition to their power deters. 

But why oppose when all who Herman knew 
Called him the pink of manhood, noble, kind ; 

When his appearance and professions too, 
Bespoke the same, and added, the refined? 



34 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Neveve was captured, but resolved to test 
By time the virtue of wiiat seemed so good : 

All said, " a splendid chance," none, it is best 
To watch the signs of traits in every mood." 

Girls smirked, " accept the paragon, or we 
Will win him, singly or by rings of nine " 

She answered, " try it, one or ten times three, 
'Twill timely serve my justified design." 

Wary enough for any scrutiny. 

He held an even way to observation — 

Turned discord and surmise to unity — 
Unto all goodness seemed a soul-relation. 

Wily enough to hide Avhat he perceived 
Of being probed in her deliberations, 

He masked in gentle acts what he believed 
Of men's prerogatives and womens' stations. 

Her friends forbore to caution or advise ; 

But she remembered love was pictured blind — 
Knew its ideal hues prone to disguise 

The shades athwart a worshipper's watched mind. 

Yet knew truth somewhere had a hallowed bound 
Which human guile was powerless to efface ; 

The past had samples strong, the struggling ground 
Of present progress proved its growth apace. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. g5 

That felt within was limitless, not fixed 
To one or few, to sex, race, age, or land ; 

And tho' perversions had it strangely mixed, 
Faith in its human estimate was grand. 

Herman professed an interest very warm 

In all the efforts aiming to remove 
Pernicious features that our customs swarm. 

And those establish that my bulwarks prove 

To vices that events and time may raise. 

Neveve's belief he termed, '* admirable. 
Just what he'd long defended, loved to praise, 

Her aspirations were his oracles." 

Seeing no cause averse, Herman became 
Her chosen — methods of uniting rose — 

She felt it solely their affair — the shame 
Prejudice flung at "no form " she'd oppose. 

" That was all right, he'd help her to repel 

The shafts of ignorance, her standard hold " 
So time and preparation passed all well ; 

And he played perfectly the brave and bold. 

But by and by, he said, " let's reconsider — 
With form or not, with us 'twill be the same; 

We stand on principles we'll not deliver — 
But to offend the times we little gain, 



; LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

And lose some strength in settled isolation : 
Of late the ceremony's not much more 

Than the reformer's published declaration : 
For sake of all, had we not best give o'er ?" 

At first Neveve well nigh to faintness sickened — 
Friends chimed with Herman, all their wits were 
plied. 

And firmly, but most gently pressed, and quickened 
To active work when they felt her subside 

A little, 'neath so many loving pleaders ; 

Then they went readily about arranging. 
While she, some saddened, yielded to the leaders, 

But felt no purpose in her spirit changing. 

And one bright eve the village church w^as filled — 
Lights glowed and music sounded to proclaim 

A bride was made, as olden usage willed — 
But on her head as heavy wrong it came. 

The name of bride charms but a little while — 
The pomp of formal rites becomes a bore 

When honor gives the promise, love the smile — 
When frauds are prompters, feints mock, how much 
more ? 

Thoughts like to these intruded on Neveve, 
Altho' not welcomed by her mighty love, 

Nor Herman's will ; she failed to quite perceive 
What, if alone, her ready mind would prove. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. §7 

Tired with deferred decision, thought could yield — 

As usual Avitli woman, as she is, 
Love held at length the long divided field, 

Claimed homage high and willing services. 

The restlessness that followed the surprise 

When marriage was suggested, did not leave ; 

A little silent murmur would arise. 

And make her acquiescence almost grieve. 

And when the gloomy, mimic service mocked 
The light and garlands, and her reason more. 

She would have been at her own weakness shocked 
Had she dared at that crisis, look it o'er. 

Some spell appeared to hold her mental powers 
Till just too late regrets could come and speak; 

Then the mistake was written on the hours — 
But she to paint it o'er with joys would seek. 

A ray of triumph danced in Herman's eye 

Soon as the legal rite was settled on : 
She saw the change, and said, " you knew the tie 

Is not te he received a valid one." 

She made the memory mild as possible — 
Labor was pleasing, love was very dear, 

Yet not so perfectly delectable, 

As when each deed with her belief waj peer. 



^ LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Some little wonders at his words and ways 
Were sprinkled all along the first fair year — 

Then larger ones fell frequent as the days, 
Each with its weighty counterpart of fear. 

She saw 'twas her own love she'd seen in him, 

Endowing with her own nobility — 
As oft, by great reflexion, very dim 

Capacities have beamed with brilliancy. 

Still love was clinging; strong grasps slowly cleave; 

To him reclaim and build in truth she tried — 
Vice was innate, customs trained to deceive — ■ 

The legal husband in his bones was dyed. 

He sought to fix himself in her estate. 

Or keep it passing thro' his reckless hands : 

"While sadly she was sufiering her fate. 

Seeking the strength to save herself and lands. 

At last was rent the visor that had hid 

Motive and act — and when the spectre grim 

Was full revealed, defaced, and could not rid 
His doings of vile fraud and heinous scheme, 

Nor features of the mask-scars, when it stood 
Above her cradled wealth where oft she'd trilled 

A pensive lullaby — the icy flood 

Her heart, home, world, with deathly coldness filled. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. ^9 

Such scenes, such woful years, are common ills, 

Need no recital — two great maladies, 
Grown rank and foul, women destroy — one kills 

By thread and inch — 'tis fashion nowadays 

Siezes its prey with avaricious grasp, 

Api^ealing to its love and vanity — 
And thus enfeebled, love abused can clasp 

The trammeled victim of inanity. 

Neveve had passably escaped the first ; 

But fraud aforethought, with psychology. 
Taking her unaware, could let the last. 

Like an engulphing deluge, swallow her. 

Her pure philosophy reeled for a time, [heaven ; 

In health's decline — 'twas said " she's ripe for 
And cannot tarry in a wicked clime 

Where direst fraud for truest trust is given." 

Her woman soul, of course, must effort make 
To turn the man to sane intent and peace ; 

Wearing, as fruitless, this somewhat could break 
The doting bond she struggled to release. 

Slowly she gathered up her shattered nerves, 
Broke the psychology that chained her powers — 

Looked thro' the case as such a case desersTs, 
And counted on some future, restful hours. 



90 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



Firmness of purpose gave more rapiJ gain 
Of physical as well as moral strength — 

Where late in sorrow she had prostrate lain, 
She rose with lessons doubly crowned at length. 

When adequate to a firm, foot-hold stand. 
Where sham society could not invade — 

To grasp clear principle in either hand, 

And voice her truths in endless goodness laid — 



She asked the blank-faced man of shame to leave 
The home he'd desecrated five dark years, 

Where for each joy built on his make-believe, 
He'd wrung as cruelly a thousand tears. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION, g^ 



NEVEVE RESTORED. 

Simply in common parlance telling Herman 

His presence made the place no home for either, 

He must depart, did not dispose of him — ■ 

He meant to show a husband's choice was teacher. 

In that he found wives had some power in choosing, 

If they but use the little law allows, 
When husbands are well known for badly using 

Each privilege, and perjuring their vows. 

Neveve saw firm decision, acted well, 

Must meet the case, and equalled the demand ; 

In her calm tone she said, " Herman, thou'lt dw^ell 
No longer here — my unobstructed hand 

Will cleanse this habitation of the air 
Of mind and soul pollution, physical 

And m-oral poison — it shall purely bear 
The fruits of peace, mental and spiritual. 



92 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

I erst was taught I could live without love 
For special object, then, that having such, 

Could live apart from it — with thee I prove 
I do not wholly die with over much 

Of deepest love bestowed, without return, 
Except in all that is love's opposite — 

And gather this, I did, and still can earn 
Self-rule — on all I own alone can sit. 

My ordeal has been dreadful, just because 
I took not my own council, and became 

Pa^^sive to other wills that nature's laws 
Abused, and purposely, with foulest aim 

Held me from gathering forces positive. 

Acting my judgment would have kept me clear 
And strong magnetically — none could bid me live 

Another's role — wives gen'rally err here. 

When thou wert not disposed to take my way, 
I should have said, then we cannot agree — 

Our love as friendship only used, will pay. 

And change to that, while we'll as neighbors be. 

Had my plan pleased, and thou had'st it accepted, 
I should have known what way to turn, when wrong 

So flagrant came, and my surroundings entered. 
On this point now belief is doubly strong. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 93 

But, taking up our case on wedlock's plan, 
It was no union, e'en in the first years. 

There mutual parties promise, here the man, 
For trust gave fraud, for love gave only leers. 

So, with thy stickling for the legal tie. 

The husband's license, customs thro' old times, 

I could show laws and vows all broken lie, 

And more, contempt of them marriage begrimes. 

And were I by all earthly laws confined, 
I'd snap them as burnt fibres in the hand, 

Asking no partial statutes to unbind. 

When God and Nature give me self-command. 

Before my soul and all great souls above, 

Even before the cheated, stupid earth, 
I will not live the semblance of dear love. 

Abetting vice, and sacrificing worth : 

For all such cases sanction and provide 

Apologies for fostering sins the worst : 
While mothers toil with minds controlled beside 

Their powerless ofispring, all will be accursed. 

At any cost I must have chance to rear 
My son if possible to prize the light — ■ 

Self-justice has a voice I've learned to hear. 
And all humanity has claims on right. 



94 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

My life shall not exemplify the blind 

When I have power its vision to assert — 

Exclusive love too long monopolized— 
Reason is keej)er now, and all alert. 

To learn and duty do again I'll try — ■ 

The wide world groans 'neath wrong on every line 
From Arctics to equator — every sky 

Arches bruised hearts moaning for rights divine. 

Help in its sordid sense thou'st mainly sought, 
Not love, save as it service well supplied — 

And not e'en in thy artful cast of thought, 
Hast thou felt in the falseness justified. 

Can it be possible that in a soul 

Seeing so clear to turn, veer and dissemble, 

There is not rectitude, when summed the whole, 
To look into itself, and gazing tremble, 

While it works out the problem that its loss 
In such a course is greatest that can fall ; 

That every real bliss it nails on cross [g^H • 

Wreathed in most thorns, and drenched in strongest 

But now no time I'll waste in mere advice, 

Perchance some time thou'lt recollect the words 

That overflowed when thraldom strengthened thrice, 
Held me worse captive than their cages, birds. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 95 

For thy sake then beyond my own I prayed — 
Now I'm ashamed such nonsense e'er inhered — 

Self-claims on par with any one's are laid 
By justice, to be never less revered : 

When sev'ral, many, or a whole appeal 

For that which one is able to bestow, 
Then, magnanimity may prompt a zeal 

Which j)ays itself while all warm in its glow. 

Kight doing miist begin — I'm ready now, 

And will not be defeated or delayed. 
Go soon — all men my friendship have, and thou 

AVilh them wilt share, however I'm betrayed. 

Lindale reformed, is happy, doing well ; 

Thou hast sunk deeper, tho' in social mire, 
And in all else art false ; yet who can tell 

But change of scene may prove a purifier ?" 



96 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



THE HUSBAND'S RETORT. 

He listened pale and silent, was surprised ; 

Said he would tarry, but could not demur ; 
Yet one rich fact he'd still from her disguised. 

He'd then disclose and on her joys confer. 

'' Ere I your most immaculateness met, 

I learned your views, and of your lore and wealth ; 
Your jilting Lindale, just the finest pet 

That ever courtesan procured by stealth. 

I vowed some man should bring you down to terms ; 

You should not women teach that they could rise ; 
You'd have your way, and man must know the germs, 

Stalks, blossoms, seeds, of your moralities. 

And work them all into all his grain of life, 
Or he could not companion be and peer — 

And even then, you rose above being wife — ■ 
I said, boys, 'twill not do for us — look here — 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



97 



None bat you know me here ; hush, help me thro' — ■ 
My skill you know John's Juno overcame — 

I'll tame the lovely, the angelic shrew, 

And swing her fortune, playing double game. 

You shall be gainers if I win — stand by, 

And make reports announce me all that's wiee : 

We'll meet as usual, all on the sly — 

But do not tempt me with segars or wines. 

For e'en their scent must not my garments touch — 
I'll have to cleanse a week ere I commence — 

If long the trial I shall need you much 
To make me equal to the task immense. 

They threw their hats in joy, and every one 

Declared they'd do their best from sun to sun, 

E'en if it took a year — they feared 'twould tv\0, 

For I'd to tame a thinker, not a shrew. 

They kept their promise well, and I have mine ; 

They've lived luxuriously all this time 

From your estate, thro' my manoeuvring hand ; 

And still you'll find there's something further 

planned. 
Yet this I'll own while taking my adieu, 
You are above all women pure and true. 
Now, where's your gain in putting Lindale down, 
Equal to exile from his friends and town ? — 
How will the memory of my embrace. 
Preferred to his, conciliate your grace?" 
i 



98 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



" Herman, this blow meant for the deepest wound 

Falls powerless at my feet, 'tis as the rest 
All overeome, and like a dead sheaf bound, 

And cast upon oblivion's vaulted breast. 
Thou can'st not lay them there, they'll follow thee. 
The haunting ghosts of thy iniquity. 
My gain's the keeping of my truth all thro' — 

The memory of a conscience clean, the aim 
At right, the knowledge that it made a true 

And noble man of Lindale, precious name. 
So dear I dare not give it Herman's son, 
Lest father- vice might in his blue veins run." 



' Well, purge his blood, and clear of knots his brain, 
Make firm his form while here he m.ay remain ; 
Thro' him your service I will reap again. 
And mark you, woman, yet your power I'll chain." 



LOVE AND TRANSITION, 99 



HERMAN'S FINALE. 

For some time Herman, 'mong his comrades lingered — • 
They raved because " one wife had set example 

That made a thousand murmur that their fingers 
Were stripped of their possessions, else they'd 
trample 

On like abuse, and save the weary last 

Of lives that had been tears, regrets and sighs — 

The place had ne'er been shaken by such blast, 
And wives instead should patience learn to prize." 

Meanwhile their wits and lawyer's tact were strained 
Neveve to quite supplant in home command— 

The subtle plot thro' her acumen failed— 
He tried for her last dime and foot of land. 

But blessed labor proved a better friend 

Than love bestowed, and comforts full supplies — 

Self-helping toil must ever healthward tend — 
Strong: honest hands bid moral motives rise. 



IQO LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

If parsons all had taught their lusty sons, 

Like them to heave the cellar sands each day, 

Or 'better, saw the wood, and wall the stones 
In open view, they had not hid to play. 

But toil 'for bread could not drive the intrigue, 
Innate and cultured, from poor Herman's brain : 

It was the wilful, wiry, bramble twig [gain. 

That choked good germs ere they could blossoms 

'Twas fed on alcohol by father first, 

As passions are that ri-^e, rebel and rule — 

The beverage must ever be accursed. 

As each partaker turns some sort of fool — 

And some turn several, 'twas Herman's case. 
Display them all, and help them gather sway ; 

Hence mind, rich reason, god-like when in place, 
Is slave to idiots with knives at play. 

Mothers' subjection 'mid base appetites, 
^ Deeply degrades them in all ways and things ; 
Its dire effect on offspring most invites 

The reformations that their freedom brings. 

O ! men and women, seeing thro' these laws. 

Arouse and teach young parents what they're doing : 

Habits unwholesome must away — each cause 
Of health be free for every one's pursuing. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. IQI 

Herman could reason on his appetites 

At times, and see his judgment trampled on ; 

Had not his fellows pressed the serpent bites, 

Might long have worn the polished mask he donned. 

The only culture he in goodness took 

Was counterfeiting it for evil ends — 
A problem into which I'll sometime look — 

Can fount thus mixed streams growing clearer send? 

But fate looked in — what of him then remained 
Toward sunset land in golden aim was bent — 

Neveve and I are glad if he has gained 
Wisdom enough to work and be content. 

But cannot hope — such men so slowly learn 

The modes of earning truth's sweet compensation ; 

Seldom, if ever in the flesh, can turn 
To laboring for their own regeneration. 

Doubtless he's nursing his long vaunted skill ; 

Betraying women, and their substance wasting ; 
Perverting men, preventing progress still ; 

Ne'er restful love nor peaceful goodness tasting. 



102 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



SUITAGE. 

This name 'tis said was given to earth 
To be thus used, a term of worth, 
By angel influence— but not hence 
I patronize — convenience 
It asks for nicety and sense. 
Benefits of the suitage plan. 

Have not been tested on a nation— 
If it be best for woman, man, 

'Twill centuries take to cleanse creation 
Of the eiFects of long abuses 

Ingrained in fibre, nerve and tissue. 
And show the salutary uses 

Of better, purer mode and issue. 
But isolated cases ever. 

In nations, sects, classes, all times. 
Have proved that manhood true and clever, 

And womanhood of noblest lines, 
Need neither law nor public watches 

To guard their innocence and morals. 
But kindly lived their love-tied matches. 

And were for heirs good, self-made sponsors 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. JQg 

Cases of old and late are named, 
In Boston, York, towns many other, 

Whose parties are for good works famed, 
Public and private, still they're lovers, 

Tho' twenty years have o'er them passed 
Since they their lots together cast. 

The case of Lindale stands for many. 
And some exceptions prove no more 

Than pers'nal failure does in any 
Pursuit or trial, given o'er. 

Years rolled on years o'er his firm head. 
And with their cares he stronger grew — ■ 

No rich enjoyment with them fled. 
And with them, in no message flew, 

To show his love its robes had shed. 
Impartial Time who from his wing 
All sorts of destinies can fling. 
Held up to Lindale's sapient view 
The things of countless name and hue, 
From Honor with her doubtful crown, 
To Folly decked in thistle down, 
Which lightest breath may blow in air, 
And leave the haggard image bare. 
Experience taught him which to choose. 
Which to perempt'rily refuse. 
Among the flowers that girt his way. 
And thorns that scarcely hidden lay ; 
Hence seasons changed, and life advanced, 
Still on his cheek bloom smiled and danced ; 
While on his lip was wisdom's plea, 
And in his bearing dignity. 



104. LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

But let the clierislied home declare, 
With comforts of the inmates fair, 
The fruits a life redeemed can bear, 
The virtues and high aiming truth 
That can supplant the faults of youth. 
Let zephyrs soft that ever pour 
The fragrance fresh of grove and flower 
On grateful senses — let the gale 
That fills the pleasure barge's sail — 
That greets the bowers with wakening kiss 
Around their charming edifice — 
Let these, a simple emblem be 
Of the kind spirit flowing free 
Within their halls — And let the buds 
Oped by the flagrant zephyr's floods, 
■ An emblem be, a type in part. 
Of Flavia's fadeless bloom of heart. 
Brighter yet gentler, day by day, 
Became her eye's expressive ray — 
Still lighter fell its glossy fringe 
Above her cheek's carnation tinge — 
More gaily thrilled the harp's bright chords 
Unto her touch, while warmer words 
With every strain their sweetness blent 
And o'er the listner's organs sent 
The rapture from her heart that sprung, 
And sought glad egress on her tongue. 
Let both their hopes like stars in air, 
Their growing loves, beyond compare, 
Emblem the beauteous being there, 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



105 



Beside her held on Lindale's knee, 
A laughing miss, the young Neveve. 
This peerless pledge lent pleasure's new- 
A cradled boy could richly coo, 
Quickening their interest in reforms, 
That life for him have -fewer storms. 
A mindfulness of duties all, 
Humanity's great, ceaseless call 
Observed, gave time no power to pall ; 
And nought betokened dearth or scath, 
To warn of a mistaken path. 
Yet, individuality 
They cherished most assiduously, 
Her name she wisely did retain. 
And both believe they still are twain. 



106 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



MARRIAGE. 

Wedlock's a point old romance chose 

To make her witching story's close — 
As if it were an ultimate 

Of being in the mundane state — 
As if that epoch were an end 

Of all things pleasing — all that tend 
To happiness, and all that's worth 

The telling on the changeful earth. 

This fact tells something when we think ; 

It stands out full in type and ink — 

Has been by nations all observed. 

And twenty centuries conserved. 
Sufficient time to tcst the worth 

Of basic usages, I ween — 
Look on what's called the Christian earth, 

And note the difference between 
The men and women, rich and poor, 

Rulers and ruled, titled and toiler. 
In common chances to secure 

The blessings that in nature loiter : 
Yet the oppressed are better, truer, 

In habits, deeds and character, 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. JQJ 

Than those who sway with every chance 

In all that's righteous to advance. 
Then note the gen'ral seething sweep 

Of vices cankering the masses, 
Base appetites that never sleep, 

And rage most in controlling classes, 
Where avarice, lust and luxury fill 
The mind and flesh with direst ill — 
While wedlock every year is full 

Of cases showing law's no lever 
To raise love to its place, and pull 

The props around that fail it never : 

Nine times in ten it proves a curse 

To parties, and to towns a worse. 

These facts are telling fanes in air, 
Pretense and pomp the same declare. 
Were marriage what it claims to be, 
'Twould have brought full morality — 
'Twould but begin the poetry. 
The pleasing scenes, the thrilling joys. 
Delightful labor that employs 
The loving pair, achievements grand. 
And bounties great for every land. 
Pens would be piled and presses prest 
To hurl tho tales from east to west — 
The aged, middle ag'd and young 
Would listen, read, sing, and hear sung. 
But now that point is wide confessed 
To close the general interest 
4* • 



IQS LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

The women take in earth's aiFairs, 
And more distinctly, it in theirs. 
Henceforth what power they exercise 
For common weal, goes out from lives 
So dull and tame it nought inspires. 
On husband's care, love, life are showered 
The gifts ta'en as if men were dowered 
By nature with all women own — 
Used lavishly, and mostly thrown 
On dissipation's rushing waves — 
Thus, men unfold in sneaks and knaves — 
Exceptions here and there one saves — 
Wantons of each sex multiply, 
And wives in rapport with them die. 
This likeness is not over colored — 
The good will own the worst is covered 
With tender mercy, and the bad 
Of gentle treatment will be glad. 

I ought to say the plan arose 

'Mong warlike brother-slaying Jews 
Who without cause made tribes their foes, 
And slew them all, sparing but those 

Demoniac passion could abuse 
More murd'rously than sword and spear ; 

And in the world there was no power 
With ravishers to interfere. 

And maidens shield in such dread hour. 
Again unto the present turn — 

What difference in modern broils. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. IQi} 

That legions slay, if one king spurn 

Another's quest for certain spoil?^ ? 
And then the rapine, waste, and bate. 

In march or camp the ancient's equal — 
In lust 'tis less discriminate, 

Granda.m's and child's pangs tell the sequel. 
Benighted kings, like David, made 

Those heathens think some vengeful lord 
Commanded such plots to be laid. 

And they must arm with wild accord. 
What gentleness had in them risen 

Showed in credulity and fear, 
Which, fusing, formed the su'Derstition 

That's traveled up from there to here. 
Kings would not let the medium true 

Of Endor speak the angel's will ; 
"Twould them expose — the same things do 

The church kings now — they're living still 

Moses and Solomon, and scorn 

Jesus who cursed what they perform. 

The kindly Jesus taught us this, 

How very heinous bondage is — ■ 

The meanness of hypocrisy. 

Pomp, pride and mimic piety — 
That eyerj yoke should broken be — 

Wars and all other murders cease — 
That all the bond should be set free. 

And thus establish love and peace — 
Hence he to death must tortured be. 
The church that took his name still follow 



110 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

His crucifyers, creed and custom — 
And those who will not their forms borrow 

Are like him taken and curse-stoned. 
To-day New England's prisons chain 

Pure men for trying like him to save 
Outraged and robbed women and men 

From worst of ante-mortem grave. 
And I expect, these truths for breathing, 

Such baptism as the churches shook 
O'er the good Thomas Paine, for teaching 

Good sense about their standard book. 
With those Jews' rites has marriage come 

From those crude tribes — is it not time 
Improvements helped us forward some, 

And flowed off" centuries Augean slime ? 
If it once service did, 'tis clear 

It serves not all at this late hour — 
Think, O, my people ! when you hear, 

And dare to use your high-born power — 
For you who see this, feel it, know it. 
In duty to the world should show it ; 

However for yourselves you dare 

Succumb to shamsj and shackles wear. 



THE ARGUMENT. 



CANTO I 



Now I will drop my story's laxing thread, 

And tell how, like religion, strange and mixed, 

Love has been made to seem, how starved, how fed. 
Till outside order some have sworn 'tis fixed. 

Young men have mercy in their faults deserved, 
For hitherto man has been badly schooled — 

Taught by base, olden sayings, oft rehearsed, 

That woman, made for man, should be man-ruled. 

Man wrote, translated and interpreted — 

That he was made for her seemed never known ; 

Christians, like Jews, have neither thought or said. 
Woman herself might govern, guide or own. 

A natal slave, her master need not spare 
Her wealth, his promise keep, or chastity : 

He sternly claims her j^urity to share. 
But his, such vow is outward gallantry. 



112 LOVE AND TRANSITION, 

Male dispensations, old and new, have made 
In practised standards all this diff 'rence wide ; 

Pretentious jDrecept with it mingled, laid 
In character the falseness, lust and pride, 

So prevalent, so gen'ral, and perforce, 

Transmitted, age on age, produced the ill 

That gave the idea, man was prone, of course, 
Accepting which, false creeds and rules'instil 

The evil, differentiating the while 

With pers'nal vices, a polluting throng. 

Till what we view of secret craft and guile. 
Of open turpitude by time made strong, 

Has grown with circling centuries, because, 
First, human ignorance wrong basis laid. 

Reasoning from which gave dogmas, and not laws. 
And every error many thousands made. 

Next, when of any age thinkers discerned 

The wrong, its mending seemed a task too great : 

And being bent on schemes that on shams turned, 
Sordidness favored yielding to their fate. 

Then, tyrants ruling, both in church and State, 
Their powers united to suppress free thought — 

Gibbets and dungeons rose, fear to create, 

And here they stand, with force infernal fraught. 



LOVE AND TRANSITIOX. 113 

How differed the dire act and cruel aim 
That Gallileo tortured, banished, celled, 

Frinn those that now, the abject mass to tame. 
Have Woodhull, Train and Lant in prison held ? 

This diff'rence we quite readily detect — 

In those days ign Vance of the world's rotation 

Excused somewhat the merciless defect — 
Now, no excuses has non-toleration. 

The show superb, and acclamations loud 
Of freedom's first centennial, to us known, 

A jubilee to tell the world how proud 
American United States have grown. 

By independence, liberty of mind. 

Of speech, of press, and all true people need, 

Is outward gloss the whole, as all may find 
Observing how the managers proceed ; 

For just so far as power can be obtained 
By fraud or perjury, or bench command. 

Progressive speech is ostracised and chained, 
Because the knowing cant by noblest stand. 

IS'otice the workings deep of churchly schemes. 
Blinding the young with superstitious awe — 

Swaying adults by artful baits and themes, 

To them support, while priests the map-work draw. 



11^ LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Notice the cropping out of the same course, 
Fruit of the influence shed one day in seven, 

'Mid sanctimonious forms where States enforce 
Measures that rob the land of righteous leaven. 

These tyrannies are one, high office sways — 

They're not religion, Christ-law, freedom, none — 

The base-ruled crowds are more than doubly slaves, 
When sham's can smite for truth's evangel tone ! 

And here 'mid public pomp and private walks, 
With free speech, press and conscience glorified, 

Vile hypocrites are paid about to stalk, 

And spy if progress plumes her for a stride. 

Intol'rance kills to-day as't did of yore. 
Savagely as it can — by feigned contempt 

And foisted prejudice w^reaks its vile store ; 
But some reformers from its fear exempt, 

Move nobly on, in thrilling joy I say it. 

Justice their motto, human rights their call — 

While more see duty, yet for fame delay it. 
Giving the false their influence, power and all. 

As far as popularity approves. 

They go sustained, and deem they something do ; 
Stopping where truth, nor trust, nor help behooves 

They aid the multitude against the true. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 1J5 

Now here's the point to herald, tho' in shame — 
We've had of liberty but dawning signs — 

Kulers have fawned upon the cheating name, 
To better ply each infamous design. 

Barbaric myth is still for goodness taught — 
Old kingly rule still grinds with iron heel — 

Customs that aid not these are set at nought — 
Respectability gives them her seal. 

What is respectability to day ? 

Ah ! 'tis a surface net the churches spread 
To catch the mass, and draw the best their way, 

A mildewed figment on the damaged head. 

All institutions, commerce, marriage, schools, 

Hinge on that rule, and render more than tithes — 

Seeing this, progressive friends, shall we be fools. 
Crouch, wince, and not half live ungrateM lives ? — 

When souls are sick, hearts broke, and bodies starved, 
Because old darkness broods when light looks in — 

When want and mis'ry rage because debarred 
Plain earth-born rights — shall we not now begin 

To speak our plainest, do our fullest, best, 
Encouraging the weak, tho' would be wise ; 

Drawing convictions felt from all the rest, 

And set more stars in these storm-threatening skies ? 



llg LOVE AND TPvANSITIOX. 

I shall speak on — Comstock, that name akin 
To Nero's sheriff, may be peering round ; 

But for truth's sake we'll work to shame his sin , 
Pity's poor child, he'll earn two yards of ground. 

Some early felt, 'mid martyr fires, for wo — 

Caught glimpses of great growth from bonds to save ; 

Now myriads hear the angel clarions blow, 
Calling to freedom's flag the good and brave. 

What tho' dark error still its sway parades ? 

'Tis seen its pith and core no life-sap give — 
Mad Jove, pit, cloven imp, have fled the shades. 

Only the forms, stayed by the laterals, live. 

What's more, millions sustain their usages 

With no faith in them, dread of change constrains — 

This lack of character is what it is 

That moves the craft, and gets robbed for its pains. 

More still, the millions know their sorry plight — 
See their false course is under critic gaze — 

A half of those who know the precious right, 
By living it, the true scale-beam would raise. 

This knowledge tells thought travels, if but slow — 
The craven ever falter, oft succumb — 

We must not tire or fear, tho' curses flow — 
Humanity's firm friends will not be dumb. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. HJ 

And we'll give thanks that finally there came 

An era fav'ring practical advance, 
Wherein life can't be ta'en by axe or flame, 

And any one may tilt a mental lance. 

Hist ! soon as said a shade rolls as a tide — 

Bigots regret such favor ever grew, 
And efforts make, iireless and nation wide — 

Crave law as power to seal our lips anew. 

Great Universe ! would not thy systems reel 
To hear the din this little orb would make 

Should edicts give them such a crank and wheel, 
For well we know what turnings they would take. 

No patriot soul would wait the wrench to feel. 
But by rebelling might its standard shake — 

Wo to the wicked, if again bright steel 

And brothers' veins must thirst to fiendish slake. 

God grant — I pray to every holy heaven — 
That inspirations copious as spring rains. 

And pure and strong as can to earth be given, 
Fall on the plotters and set right their brains. 

Prayer I believe in — pray, truth loving souls. 
Legions of angels hear and note the plea — 

When evil prays, it evil gets, and tho-e 

Who seek the wrono; to their own nets mav flee. 



118 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



But prayer, like faith, for works as helper cries, 
To reach and grasp the blessings, and to hold 

The banner and the beacon to the eyes 
That see not till the light is wide unrolled. 

Using my thought for truth's sake, is a prayer. 
And not the less a fervent one that here 

'Tis hummed for earth's sake, song assuages care. 
Soothes, while it softly succors memory. 



Thus far I've singing noted facts and fates. 
To see the basis and the bonds of things, 

And show how love, as't has been lived, relates 
To olden doings led by crudest kings. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. |;[9 



CANTO II. 

Man, learning he was monarch of all life, 

Believed of course, his will in love supreme — 

Especially his property, his wife 

Could never council him upon the theme. 

Thus passion ruled, blind passion was called love ; 

Thro' history's long ages that is clear : 
Not understood, how could the precious dove 

Of peace be cherished and made sweetly dear ? 

It could not be believed in till the times 

When progress calmed the rigid rule somewhat. 

And woman's life unfolding sent its chimes 
Among the echoes of her natal lot. 

As evolution's jagged line is traced 

Alcng the rounded centuries' great chain, 

For every mark of growth woman is graced 
With some new right she's grateful to retain. 



120 LOVE AND TRANSITION, 

As oft is laid some benison on man, 

Making him better master, more a mate : 

Mind heightened toward the art and science plan, 
When honored industry became a fate. 

Commerce began to yield a riper fruit — 
Letters supplanted scrip, the glorious press 

A rose- wreathed banner raised, all lands to suit ; 
The word democracy was born, will bless. 

Status of mind in any age reveals 

That time's demands — all things supply their part- 
Free laws, free thought to all our traits ajDpeal, 

And head and hands scorn to exclude the heart. 

Science in equity no doubt abides — 

Must sweep corruption from the civil field — ■ 

Purge sacerdotal pools which splendor hides, 
And show that churches tyrant sceptres wield. 

Sects are but kingdoms pampering a few — ■ 
Members are subjects and support the thrones 

High steeples mocking Christ, and velvet pew, 
Lure those in ignorance held by trait'rous tones. 

At present people know kingships are wrong. 
And will abolish them, they'r learning how ; 

What publics lack, as proven all along. 
Is soul of principle at helm and prow. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 121 

Of cliurcli, as State, transition's labor throes 
Are sorely racking every sect and land — 

Laders are writhing, deep concern o'erflovvs 

In aid sought from the child, and law's strong hand. 

Crowds mewed in churches and denied free ears 
Outside, lest they should learn they're duped within, 

Hjld many youths 'mong hypocrites of years, 
Worthy to be untaught such ancient sin. 

The multitude 's a mass of clustering rings — 
To make them show and shine all vigor goes : 

Each sports its temple, and its king, or kings. 
Its pleasure takes unwittingly in woes. 

While these swayed all the upward stagg'ring world, 

A stupid quiet cursed humanity — 
When right and conscience scrolls sublime unfurled, 

When rose the plea of congeniality. 

Intolerance rolled again its wrathful eyes. 
Muttered anathemas, forged secret ways 

To crush brave manhood, trembled that its prize. 
Bond woman, should presume on her own place. 

The marriage law in mythic bondage based 
Trebly subjects her, body, mind, love, will — 

The equal stills, while bonds are firmly placed — 
Heredity tho' changing, bears slaves still. 



122 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Yet, 'mong th' old legion's never falt'ring fires 
Of scandal, and for loud guns, baldest lies, 

Just to sustain their sensuous desires, 

And from the millions draw the rich supplies — • 

'Mong these the van of progress makes assay, 
In every nation has some mighty friends, 

And in these States are myriads to-day 

Seeing that to all rights their life growth tends. 

Majestic minds, and souls as angels high 
Reflect, resolve, in hallowed fervor burn — 

With voice and pen which fiends shall not defy 
Raise truth, sink falsehood, and the world will learn 

They wrought aright, and happiness accrued 
For all, as they foresaw, and nobly meant, 

When earthly force with righteous work imbued 
Is seen, know there is power supernal lent. 

Nominal freedom for one sex to say 

A word on law, for conscience in one line. 

Were small if given no farther range and play ; 
Would mock life's needs, and stint its calls divine. 

It but evolves the inner, deeper, higher — 

Makes common wish all blessings to extend — 

Hearts become tuneful, and a mutual lyre 
In waiting reason is a guiding friend. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 123 

*Tis seen affection and pure parentage 

Have holiest claims on freedom's kindly hands — 
This follows, in its long, perfecting stage, 

As facts in science when research demands. 



Responsibility can but exist 

AYhere choice and action have free exercise — 
Tutors and pupils must on that insist 

Ere they teach w^ell, or learn how to be wise : 

For personal responsibility 

Is the best motive, and the only mean 
For thorough goodness, full ability — 

AVhy can't so clear a truth be clearly seen ? 

Applied to vice, restraining it must be — 
Good sentiments aid good sensations some : 

Mind would be pure and generous as free. 
And selfishness find with it scanty home. 

To err would be to wrong and punish self; 

Deceit would offer loss, but never gain ; 
Lovers would lay most fears upon the shelf, 

Knowing reason to be king of each, the twain. 

Watch nteds be kept, for love, as yet, is blind : 
The Greeks who bandaged Cupid's eyes were right ; 

For what they knew, had heard, most that we find, 
Is typed by the mischievous, chubby sprite. 



124 LOVE AND TRANSITION, 

What wonder that men's daring would betray — 
That women could not learn their best to try — 

The love-god was a reckless boy at play, 
Springing his bow to make the arrows fly. 

Cupid was born of the sport-ruling days ; 

Plumed chivalry, succeeding force, ran high ; 
Knights won the fair by tilt of spears and blades, 

Tossed gloves were valor's meed, and victor's prize. 

Nought rests the same, the round worlds finer grow — 
Mankind is mutable, doth upward tend — 

Body and brain reciprocating show 

That normal action and reaction mend. 

In spite of bonds, cells, faggots, slanders, all, 
The intellect has risen to grandeur's goal. 

Not only man's, woman's, mid scorn and gall 
By brothers given, has proven mind and soul. 

And love has sensed gleams from its starry mount. 
Felt hallowed warmth thro' the brain's sky-glass 
steal, 

Hopes the fraternal, spiritual fount 

Will yield it light to see as well as feel. 

Bright intuition keeping gate between 

High spirit dome and reason proud and great, 

Has let a glimpse of glory pass the screen, 

And thought has snatched it to adorn its state. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. "1^25 

But in this capitol does justice sit, 

Filling a scroll to take a stand and speak, 

And every pilferer will catch a hit, 

Gentle, but potent to live on the cheek. 

Love 'mong departments, when 'twas passion mere, 
Was first with some, now when it council takes, 

Blends higher love's afflatus in its sphere ; 
All ought to note the difference it makes. 

And will in time, long time, for oh, so slow 
Plods tho great mass, still listening to the old ! 

But, now a glance, and then a minstrel flow, 
From the developed, will as leaven be told. 

Work on, rich pioneers, earth's first, best fruits 

Of heavens to be where hells have flamed and 
frozen. 

Wreath for each other chaplets, tune sweet lutes, 
And bless foes by the million, score and dozen. 

If basic love, as deemed, will harmonize 
With reason clear and philanthropic light, 

'Twill ope its blushing, j)urblind, bandaged eyes. 
And bring bright day where erst it courted night. 

And it is having done the reasoning tasks, 
Is coinciding, learning humane lessons. 

Sharing with those in whose sweet light it basks, 
Holding its censer toward the righteous heavens. 



12G LOVE AND TRANSITION, 

No more skylarking in the moonlight daze, 
With cruel darts from fullest quiver flying, 

But op'ning scrolls 'neath noon's eff"algent blaze, 
Showing thoughtful Love on Justice's arm relying. 

Artists of Eighteen Hundred Seventy-Eight, 
Your brushes dip and paint the gods of love, 

A full grown pair, eyes open, wide awake. 

Brows beaming, all their work to fairly prove. 



LOVE A:ND TIIANSITION. y^l 



CANTO III. 

Progression's power on sentiments and ways 
Brought gallantly, a milder usage in ; 

Good faith found favor, constancy had praise ; 
Falseness in love was outwardly a sin. 



This deferential manner, formal quite, 

Was deemed most gen'rous, woman's all was given 
Tho' cloaking cruelty, crime, hate and spite, 

Some still contend it offers earthly heaven. 



But rights pertaining to the great emotion 
Were ventured not aloud, even if thought of; 

In woman love was worship's blind devotion. 
At last, her right to guide her love is talked of 



128 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

It is the border watcher's early word — 
The age of justice passes its gray dawn ; 

And tho' the morning w^ork be heavy, hard, 
Freedom for woman shall be fully born. 

Greeks, Romans, Jews, once boasted some great dames, 

And all along the ages, like a line 
Of fadeless stars, women's resplendent names, 

With men's still glittering, as richly shine. 

But who dreamed then her rights would make her 
brighter, 

Make better mother, helper, mate and friend — 
How many now think she'd make ail tasks lighter. 

All people nobler, if herself she owned ? 

More than the bigot recks, more than dare speak — 
Customs produced by king-craft foster fear ; 

Cowardice takes — courage with rust is weak; 
But truth shall rouse the palsied sense to hear. 

State and church rule close wedded to false doing. 
Wait unaware the flow of social tides — 

Leaders alarmed, lest moral floods are brewing. 
Band hosts to persecute and proselyte ; 

But love must needs be purged of lordly vice — 

Onward its agitating billows sweep— 
Or reason's rather, paying back the price 

Love gave in wo when both were half asleep. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



129 



Price shall te rendered to the uttermost, 
Tho' myriad years should labor at the task, 

Yielding their richness as a holocaust, 

To bring a heaven where love may truly bask. 

Pray that all kingdoms go, no kingdoms come — 
They kill the equity that forms the base 

On which the virtues can erect a home, 
Or love secure a firm abiding place. 

They're doomed to go, they mock whoe'er they bind — 
Becloud the sun of liberty like night : 

Mind, soul, will not long grope, and no ray find, 
Knowing that unto life belongs its light. 

Love doubly thralled, was purposely held blind. 
Ravished and taught 'twas fate, its god was proof, 

A random archer maiming all mankind, 

None hoped to rise from wound and lust aloof. 

But Love's cleared sight shall spy a floral seat. 
Where music swells and reason makes a feast — 

Where rose and lily vie by waters sweet. 

And wisdom 's greatest guest and passion least. 

This follows as meridian follows morn — 
Material bases shout, " we're waiting now :" 

Science stands forth, new sceptred and new born, 
Reading the world aloud, and teaching how. 
5 



130 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

The high old mountains, the deep algid seas, 

Mellowed and mildened, yield their massive stores ; 

Kocks are refining 'neath great forest trees ; 
Caverns are holding out their precious ores. 

The valley soils, the vasty hills and plains, 
Grow pure as they do fei'tile, fine and fair — 

Their piled abundance of rich fruits and grains. 
If asked by frugal hands would fill the air. 

E'en foliage is turning into bloom — 

Flowers growing greater, fuller, sweeter all ; 

By bud and graft grow grand and multiform, 
Till beauty quite bewilders in her call. 

The seasons never come the same again — 
In every clirae they genial grow, no doubt — 

All vegetation flaunts its full refrain — 

Brutes pass, and better sp2cies roam about. 

The very atmosphere, the breezes change 

In quality essential — influence made 
On body, mind and spirit as they range. 

Is not the same as when the mammoth strayed. 

The great electric and magnetic forces 
May make us brighter, better every way, 

If we'll learn uses, and shun their abuses ; 

Not, like fire drinkers, with keen javelins play. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 13X 

The one who robs these currents of another 
Becomes a cannibal who hates himself — 

Sees his dependence all his selfhood smother, 
In giving best he had for poorest pelf. 

Fold up your digits, novices in theft. 
Your verj motive draws the pestilence ; 

Nature knows where your merit-card is left ; 

AYhat she don't render 's bane, just waive it thence. 

What shows most vileness and the least of worth, 
Is throwing emanations foul on others— 

For self relief seek the absorbing earth, 
Nutrition pure, and the absolving waters. 

All see the stealthy aim and inly blush ; 

Ignorance hides it, as the sand the bird 
That dips its head the startled fear to hush ; 

I'll try to help you out with this kind word. 

Good food and labor make majestic forms, 

And towering minds that soar and sing alway ; 

Scorn every stimulant, as science warns. 

Feed purely here, and bless your stars for aye. 

Delicious fruits and cereals every year 

Supply varieties for large demand — 
'Tii found that swine aid the woods pioneer 

Where rattling serpents 'mong the ledges band. 



132 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



As food they're bad, yet tables flow in lard, 
And scrofula corrupts both life and love — ■ 

Fomented bread and soda cakes discard. 
If it is wished nutrition's worth to prove. 

We're what we're made of, only modified 
By opportunity, thought, action, rest — 

Health as a basis, none should be denied, 
Which fact already is by words confessed. 

Yet few extend the point to practised steps. 
Lest it should take them from the olden path, 

Falsely supposing they procure respect, 

By lingering where some perished pilgrim hath. 

For that ostensibly they're plodding yet 

Where blinded leaders draw the blind astray, 

Where no clear voice of truth can now direct — 
No God, Christ, angel or true mortal may. 

To turn from nature, verdant, fruitful, fresh, 

To contemplation of society. 
With all its warping ills poured out on flesh, 

Is ent'ring realms of inebriety. 

In present leading sin grows upon sin. 

Wrong upon wrong till chaos seems at hand — ■ 

List to the Oriental clash and din, 

Pilla^re and ravishment from land to land. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION; 133 

Want, poverty and sorrow following — 

Wealth piled in temples glittering as thrones 

Above the huts where vice is wallowing — [bones. 
Where homes are streets, and bread perhaps bare 

How small the diff 'rence 'tween those lands and these, 
Our carnage fields are only just washed clean — 

Squalor surrounds our lofty palaces, 

And hunger pines where lavish waste is seen. 

Tho' thousands roam and beg, haggard and weak^ 
More toil in silence for the smallest jot 

That holds them able, others prisons seek, 
The fare and fate a preferable lot. 

Extravagance in all things mocks the poor, 
Sustained by wealth justly the toiler's meed; 

'Tis taken daily at the lofty door 

Where gewgawed callousness sees tatters plead. 

Still luxury rolls high, and tells how large 
The store for all when equity abounds : 

And revelry runs wild with youth in charge. 
To show what time there is for joyous sounds, 

When pure amusements please, and happy faces 
Supplant the weary, wistful sallow looks — 

When children taught their nature's needs and graces, 
Begin life well, love healthful sports and books. 



^34 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

While speculation's heavy hoards amass, 
Repining j^overty will haunt each hall, 

Weakening and sickening, not alone its class, 
In many ways the misery marks us all. 

Sympathy pines and competence divides — 
Affluence writhes in struggling not to see : 

Our offspring this partake, and worse besides, 
Those famished before birth their fellows be. 

So, 'tis our business to show things their places, 
Yes, everybody's w^ho knows aught amiss — 

Make no apologies for special cases ; 

If truth prevails, at last it comes to this. 

Forth on, with every good laid plainly out. 
And every folly bracing up the false. 

Forever dropped — thus brightly face about. 
And only fear to strengthen error's cause. 



luOYK AND TRANSITION. ^35 



CANTO IV. 

The public funds most costly state halls build, 

Which are by statesmen, their own salaries stating, 

What more and else they get, not stating, filled — 
Debt and spent casli keep the taxed nation waiting, 

Kot patiently, for good laws and fair dealing — 
'Tis sick of frauds and complex swindling rings. 

And other modes of dupe-making and stealing, 
And bound to bring an era without kings. 

The times need myriads of moral Washingtons — 
As many Paines with pens of sense to back them ; 

But more and most, needs mothers wise for sons — 
Shameful suspenss must last long as we lack them. 

If men were ready for the right to-day, 
And reaching f )r an Archimedean lever, 

They could not turn the common scourge away. 
Or more than show themselves a little clever, 



]36 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Unless the other half of high creation 
Reformed its modes with patriotic aim, 

Intent, each on her personal salvation 

From sham respectability and shoddy fame. 

Thus only can they save the sickling daughters, 
And simpering sons who with them fall or rise, 

To hold the good we've reverently sought for. 
And bear babes tending to the pure and wise. 

Man's strongest motives goodness to attain, 
'Mid woman's trivial customs disappear ; 

Her main appeals are to his sensuous brain, 

His answers are amours, games, smoke and beer. 

His first responses read as on we run. 

Are mental vagueness, a deep, troubled pulse ; 

Then, morbid sensibilities begun, 

The man consume, the social realm convulse. 



But note, her habits are not all her making — 

He plans and she complies, being taught to please ; 

And on her yielding he is speculating, 

From pins to pearls, o'er continents and seas. 

And note again, just what these customs make her 
Serves the old tyrannies, spirit and letter — 

She keeps each sex the powerless partaker 
Of rites and styles that rivet each old fetter. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



137 



Where is her cunning, manifest of yore ? [pains ? 

Where the dear knowledge bought by cent'ries' 
To plead that the born present, and still more, 

The coming future, may be void of chains ? 

What shall endow her with the ken that stirs 
The springs of practicality, and clears 

The fact that when she will the rule is hers, 

That where most bond she's slave to her poor fears ? 

O, that enfeebling fear, how I deplore it ! 

Not less because I've laid it 'neath my feet — 
I moan with those who bow — who just glance o'er it — 

Who win one point and think their gain complete. 

Man too is subject to the crushing pall — 

Dare not receive heaven's light nor let another ; 

Blindfolds the woman at each lording's call ; 

Is more at fault, tho' more its signs may smother. 

How could the social sphere roll sweetly on — 

Or any other, that so out of joint ? 
Give ear, good brothers, not so far yet gone 

In sophist fogs but you can see a point — 

Far back as hist'ry helps to trace opinions. 

Women by usage, aye, and adage too, 
Were taught the fact of sex made them the minions 

Of men whose j)rovince willed what the}" might do. 



]^38 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

And 'neath that millstone's ever grinding weight 
They must stand sponsors for all virtue here ; 

Each rule herself, control all men whom fate 
Or purpose foul impelled her walks anear. 

The word obey must never be misused — 
Obey not, makes of reason mythic muddle, 

Have women guessed the not was introduced 
To throw on their weak side resultant trouble ? 

The maxim goes, he's not much of a man. 
Unskilled in artful lures his worst to try — 

Drilled in compliance, if resist she can, 
Some home on her as keeper may rely ; 

If not, the city mart is ever calling — 

Has in seduction its dependence laid ; 
The fairest must be tempted and kept falling ; 

So only thrives the life polluting trade. 

So only wavering marriage is preserved — 

And man wants home well tended, one true breast 

For all the babe's he's willing to have served 
At his expense — the nameless, all the rest, 

He tries to fancy find oblivion's waves — 

Tho' they look from the hovels marked with blight, 

Clinging to mothers withering for their graves. 
And tottering to the almshouse for a mite. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. ;[39 

And the poor waif's abortion reft of flesh 

Are nurslings somewhere, seeking parent love ; 

By pitying spirits fostered thro' the mesh 
Of murd'rous purposes, all seen above. 

Law takes its straight undeviating course — 
Immortal germs go forward, slow or fast. 

Are not annulled by any human force. 
Trials cause great amends to come at last. 

The law compensative acts everywhere — 
The universe all pulsates to that key — 

Efforts to shirk results lay bosoms bare 

To frost, when truth a vesture soft would be. 

Angels see where all beggared souls belong — 

Conceived, and all eternity is fate — ■ 
The process onward goes, and mournful throngs 

Meet their projectors in no distant state. 

These truths momentous are just being learned 
By the aged and profound, when every child 

Should know them ere its dozenth year is turned. 
With reasons why it should live undefiled. 

I've shown these social ills came from the past 
AVith those of which they're kin and progeny, 

The civil, clerical, which knit them fast. 
The ages' dower on us, to-day's decree. 



140 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Was ever cruelty contrived more dire, 

To teach man all his life to sin and suffer— ^ 

To subject woman to this keen cross-fire, 

And rasp with ruse that he'd protect and love her? 

O, Universe ! had not the human come 

From the divinest power, the greatest good, 

Oppression would have held all music dumb — 
Frozen the fount of every genial mood ! 

These customs are the gifts the past has made, 
Handed along to make us of their pattern — 

Into them dovetailed every cunning trade, 
To overreach, and on each other batten. 

'Mid these we stand — some think, some gaze, some 
pray- 
Where is our beacon, what great aim has man ? 

Usage fires av'rice, cries, " take double pay," 
Then buy your pleasures cheaply as you can. 

And what has woman but a choice of ills, 
A quite uncertain one at that indeed ? 

What fruit of promise her out-asking fills — 
What work can bring a widely blessing meed ? 

She's pondered o'er the problem days and years — 
Peered into mysteries, mandates, dens and thrones, 

Found little respite for her saddest fears — 

Looks vaguely still, or speaks in dubious tones. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 14^ 

Ambitious ones have ventured out somewhat — 
Sounded the status of the av'rage thought — ■ 

Learned the return for truth was Attic shot — 
Succumbed to the faint line approval taught — 

Seem_ not to know 'tis harder to choke down 
Their high convictions and complacent stand, 

Than live and utter truth, tho' slight and frown 
May seek as lunatics their names to brand — 

Go far as the times' criers say advance — 

Lay their w^orld's offerings on the popular side, 

Knowing the falseness they thus countenance. 

The mount of wrong they thus make high and widt 

To me, this strange enigma stranger grows, 
The more I see the hideous mountain shine, 

And rise by gifts and influences of those 
Who know the right, yet lay for it no line 

To tell another that if 'twere outwrought. 
Evil would lessen, life become sublime — 

Childhood soon blossom into gracious thought, 
Age ripen fruitage all would know divine. 

What can reformers think, if think they do, 
When banding with the customs that sustain 

The old and tyrannous, unclean, untrue, 
For custom's aggregations form the main. 



142 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

A usage that the least can militate 

'Gainst any law of science, progress, health, 

Should be displaced — those should discriminate 
'Tween true and false who claim the spirit wealth 

That loves and labors for the common weal 

Against all selfish clans, sects, parties, trades — 

Who does not this has not been brought to feel 
The holy fires before which darkness fades. 

Who does not this bears not progression's seal 

On soul or work, they throw their power on wrong: — 

Aid not the right, but block each shining wheel. 
Weaken its force, and make the foeman strong. 

Kules that oppress appeal to what's most selfish. 
Creating greed, and ofispring forward brings it — 

So called religious rites promote the evilish — 

Harsh word ? yes, but here called for, duty sings it. 

I've dropped the " d " that never needed using ; 

Evil 's too bad without personifying — 
No more the bad than good deserves abusing. 

Fair treatment gives it better grace in dying. 

Where kindly reasoning will nothing weigh, 
Nor truth presented with its proven meed. 

Beside puffed sin in penalty's array. 

Then our best thoughts better examples need. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 143 

Cold cells and cruelties disease the mind, 
Malice is nursed by rigorous commands — 

Pris'ns should be schools, science and toil combined, 
Asylums, nurseries, kept by tender hands. 

If laws were just, and churchdom not a farce. 
Crime would abate, hypocrisy grow less. 

Respect for each one's dues make outrage scarce. 
Belief find tolerance when free t' express. 

To tol'rate nothing liberal now's the order, 

To persecute where conscience speaks, the rule 

With those termed Christians, they'd close up the 
border 
Now open to free speech, discussion's school, 

I think they quite mistake the mighty power 
The soul of freedom has already wrought, 

To work still on till people own the dower 

God in them seeks, the great have ever sought. 



;[44 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



CANTO V. 

Churches care not what followers think, if they 
Keep mute, and seem its discipline to take, 

Thus throw thoir influence with the crowds that stay 
With them for flimsy fame or fashion's sake. 

Large are the numbers flocking there for these. 
The most ephemeral cheats that blight the soul — 

Did not reformers swell their lines and please 
Their wicked purpose, our lines would be whole. 

The saddest, sorest fact that grieves the good 
Who seek to check the sorrows surging o'er 

This land and others where injustice broods. 

And robb'ry, weakness, want, their mixed dregs pour. 

Is that those knowing all the shams combined 
In customs called respectable, in modes 

Making the church and ton alike inclined. 

Both vasty schemes mammon immense to hoard — ■ 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



145 



One, sacrilegiously in Jesus' name, 

Made scapegoat for their sins, ne'er imitated — 
And one, lasciviously in venal fame. 

For women sold, enslaved, their freedom hated — ■ 

Knowing this, they like the all-betraying smile 
Of these who win whate'er they have of force — 

For gain or show, or lightly time to while, 

Give all they are and have to block truth's course. 

If those who see were good enough to turn 
From all they know of soul-defiling wrong 

To half they know of right, and ready learn. 
All quietly as they can con this song, 

They'd change the programme of the dark old age, 
Live in the light and truth, firm, free and strong, 

Give no just cause for discontent or rage — 
Example's argument would reach the throng. 

What do, and where begin, the question is — 
My answer has been studied, tested, lived ; 

Proved safe for one — I've scaped each precipice 
That threatened me — I look on those believed 

To understand the truths to act upon. 

The shams that must retire as right invades ; 

And argue, if a system not in ton. 

Of only one, can outlive three decades 



14:Q LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

In open practice of true principles 
Which are taboo'd, belied, unpopular, 

And stronger grow, tho' few the intervals 
Of helpful, friend communion, near or far ; 

Then simultaneous action would impress 

The moving thousands with a sense of ease ; 

The joys of conscious good would beam no less. 
The main work triumph by each branch increase. 

For every line of action is a strand 

To make the cable and its gram complete ; 

The deathly powers see this, and firmly band — 
Y. M. C. A. is an example meet. 

What cannot start with foothold in the van, 
Are gathered up by vigilant recruits ; 

And marshals station woman, child and man. 
Where best their influence the object suits. 

They're welcome to equality of chance — [them ; 

May plead " love Jesus " — still with horrors scare 
But not with force, and bogus laws advance, 

Nor gods like them in statutes, out to bear them ! 

Shall individual rights, inborn, God-given — 

Shall civil liberty a century nursed, 
Be pressed aback, to death and silence driven. 

And leave the quivering earth, by tyrants cursed ? 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. ;[ 4/ 

Shall we who rev'rence truth, and knowledge gain — 
Who shed for human wrongs and woes ©ur tears- 
Like cravens bear to have sweet justice slain, 
Progress, pure morals, all that life endears ? 

And now when angels draw in legions near — 

Give their rich lore, and bid our souls be strong — 

For they will courage wake 'mid falt'ring fear — 
Assist the right, tho' millions brace the wrong ? 

Nay, all that's "great and high in any heaven — 
That's grand and holy in the carnal spheres — 

That calls forth virtues to the human given. 
Re-echoes nay, these are truth's harvest years. 

O, men to equity and honor grown — 

To purity of life in any plane — 
In law, trade, labor, where your depth is shown — 

In love where manhood's status tells again — 

Stand forth, speak firmly, work for your belief, 
Tho' folly's vot'ries scorn, and bigots smite ; 

Their shams can't bring a truthful soul to grief, 
Nor, if well guarded, cloud its quenchless light. 

Stand by each other in this common cause, 

Against the common enemy of all — 
And strengthen women while they falt'ring pause 

Amid the ranks where some had rather fall, 



1^48 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Hailed by the vain in glimmer of false show — 
Praised by the proud, tho' pomp is all their wea 

Than tarn to true, fresh paths in joy aglow, 

Made smooth by duty, and bloom-strown by health, 

O, women, knowing where growth ought to lead ; 

And how the meshes of these customs bind — 
How low you sit and hear those lower plead 

In vain for lasting good of any kind ! 

You who would act a part to make life blest, 
But weak is motor power, weary is mind ; 

And countless cares consume the time f :r rest, 
So that to study change you're not inclined — 

And you who think and search 'mong cause and change, 
See thro' the former, of the latter, wish 

It were accomplished, but to rearrange 

Seems task too great, tho' all were strong and rich — 

Take time, glance o'er the scenes as now they'r played — 
Note what there is to waste the residue 

Of this dear stage, to hold you downward swayed. 
And draw your children where their steps you'll rue. 

How poor and treacherous is the worldly praise. 

Return for life-long servitude in sin ! 
As biting serpent with its victim plays. 

The fashionable guides their vot'ries win. 



Lov^ a::l> T-iA^s.Ticx. 3^49 

Your money, time and strength you dissipate ; 

The drudgery and disease that hence accrues 
Bring crazing virus medicine can't abate, 

And generations feel its fires infuse. 

Its signs are patent on the young and okl, 
In thirst for stimulants, in morbid passions ; 

King-craft thro' these retains its scathing liold ; 
Its strongest allies are abnormal fashions. 

It favors these, and plainly too, commends — 
Goes hand in hand with business speculations ; 

It worships fatness, temp'ral pow3r its ends. 
Whoever dies of losses or starvation. 

It seeks the passive, sympathetic heart. 

Cries " Love the Saviour, come to our meeting ; 

We've stylish church, companions gay and smart ; 
Come in your best, and there find pleasant greeting." 

Once there, and all the arts persuasion knows 

Are plied to teach respectability 
By the church standard, 'tis the plume that shows 

One's up in life — style is divinity. 

The bait, Avith outward training for appearance, 
Takes, as fictitious life too sadly tells — 

When fear's required, conversion is a clearance. 
Then, only promptly pay, and mind the bells. 



150 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Religion's not enjoined in form or faith, 
But spies set over those disposed to live it ; 

Wrong multiplies along the credal path, 

Till suff 'ring cries, more freedom ! truth will give it. 

One needs but look these sorry facts to prove ; 

They bring the crises, hoarding toilg supplies. 
Which ne'er flow back to sorrow as behooves : 

Numbers and strength the mission's plan implies. 

The psychologic sermons, prayers and songs 
Are not to mend bad habits, but to hold, 

As servants of the church, the vasty throngs. 
The State included in the priestly fold. 

Those meaning well, I'm sad to know will feel 

Wronged by plain words, and some presented truths : 

They must remember the good surgeon's steel 

Touches some nerves he would have spared the 
bruise. 

Church marriage plans have failed in moral power ; 

Love has been famished, lust luxurious fed — 
The sickly offspring lack the birthright dower 

Of health, for parents do not will, they're led. 

The lead makes customs false and habits'base. 
Intemperance in all things supervenes — 

Defiling drinks integrity displace — 

Narcotic juice and smoke add deathly scenes. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



151 



Tea, coflfee, candy, pepper, pickles, gum. 
Are in the broad, bad way both sexes pass 

Then, the dress mania has to woman come, 
A kindred inebriety, alas ! 



1^2 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



CANTO VI, 

Fashion has grown a parent evil here, 

Of greatest magnitude, 'midst great excess, 

Entailing on th' unborn, remote and near, 
Countless diseases ages can't suppress. 

'Tis filling these abundant times with wants — 
These human frames with agonies untold — 

Turning reft hopes of youth to chilling taunts, 
To worst of dangers, bodings of the old. 

On women 'tis a vampire trebly armed, 
On burdened bodies torturing decay. 

On mind a weakening frenzy, folly-charmed, 
On moral strength an enervating sway. 

Yet, some of these are talking of free lives. 

And have not power their laden limbs to free- 
See not that complex pers'nal slavery drives 
Away the strength to will, and do, and be. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. ;[53 

Besides, they pillar the opposing ranks — [advance : 
Withold their hands from those who would 

When they're aware they form the wings and flanks 
That charge on selves, they'll tactics change 
perchance. 

Who that can think does not perceive that they 
Do all their functions prostitute to show ? 

The fashion branch of kingcraft they obey, 
And thereby with the other branches go. 

Who does not see that branch is of the vicious. 
With women acting on this sensuous ground, 

'Tis theirs to please men's fancies, tho' pernicious. 
As fabrics piled, in which they're trameled, bound ? 

Taught, to attract by dress is primal duty. 
When, seeking that at all, is far too vain — 

To deem the latest style essential beauty, 
AVhen sheer deformities comprise the main. 

Taste early is perverted, ideas warped ; 

Prospective women learn pursuits of slaves — 
In fascinating by false glare absorbed, 

Are easy prey in times that nurture knaves. 

Men too, and boys, take on the fashion spirit — 
Familiar grow with forms uncouth and strange, 

Like nought which earth can possibly inherit ; 
And praise the load for women, lest they range. 



154 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

The liuman form in exercise should be 
Void of encumbrance — petticoats encase 

And bind, where most it should be wholly free, 
Where outraged action most perverts the race. 

The mystery gewgawed with especial care, 

Appealing strongly to the amoral, 
Is a base stimulus both sexes share — 

Both are less noble, both more animal. 

He cannot rise while she invites him down, 
Nor she till reason high inspire her soul — 

Nor both together while the fashion clown 

Can keep his pranks played by the surging whole. 

Examine, thinkers, this prolific plague. 
See how it makes and multiplies our ills, 

And holds us powerless to disengage 

From that which bane and vassalage instills. 

Journals that bravely some reforms defend, 
And pass in silence costume's preparations. 

Imply they homage to king fashion lend^ 
And blindly deem he'll enter equal stations. 

Mothers and matrons, feeling woman's need 
Of lab' ring easily, with health retained, 

Of self-earned livelihood, her natural meed, 

And knowing by freed forms the boon is gained, 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. ] 55 

Can you not be exemplars for the right — 

Help 'raise to strength and character the weak — 

Forego the silly praise the vain invite, 

And make your years for truth and justice speak? 

'Tis asked, in fearful foresight, what to do 

With daughters, ^mid dark dissipation's whirls — 

Poor mothers, not to answer well and true, 
In doing all things as should do the girls. 

If they lack poise all shams and shames to face, 
To speak for, do for, changes needed long, 

Girls, boys, and men, their knowledge will disgrace, 
And all plead clear, for mothers winked at wrong. 

Women of this closing century, 'mid the light 
Shed o'er the vice that still our way pervades. 

Are prophet-warned not to endure the blight 
That passed along the opening decades. 

Some age of matrons must the work project 
Of clearing customs of their noxious weeds — 

Of instituting all they know of helps 

To goodness, pureness, in intents and deeds. 

Large numbers thus devoted thoroughly 

Would followed samples be to those now born, 

First to young mothers, glad to gain relief. 
They to the misses, they t' the age in dawn. 



Iqq love and transition. 

All these to mucli assure in truth's behalf, 

Each mail of right who sees reforms grow cool, 

And lag one-footed with a bending staff. 

Should advocate that women leave the school 

Where they both learn and teach dire fallacies, 

And work for their own lives and freedom's cause, 

Bringing the other foot and carriages. 
To move with force by the eternal laws. 

Thus they can never move till thus she works, 
Tho' man may strive in sweat and agony — 

If long time still with the dark throng she lurks. 
Its power will bear the cord as well as key. 

Men, with both voice and pen should them remand 
From fashion's rule which now unnerves the soul. 

And shows the world 'neath tyrants they will stand ; 
Tho' truth be crushed, and back dark ages roll. 

I think the men reformers have the powers 

To induce women of good theories. 
To drop the outward badge these trying hours. 

That shows they give the wrong their sympathies, 

At least, the little life the bondage leaves them. 
And have no spirit to divide the ranks [them 

Of light and darkness, that the good which needs 
May gain with them the liberty it asks. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 15'J 

Science brings knowledge for our use to-day 
Our parents had not ; with it duties rise 

Commensurate, 'tis wisdom to obey — 
To fail convicts us in all human eyes. 

Our late found treasure, physiologic ken, 

Shows how to save or waste life, what the cost — 

How we are made pure or gross by regimen. 
How clothes protect or cramp, impede, exhaust. 

Among the forces reaching the foundation 

Of power and excellence, are food and dress — 

If fit and proper, these make preparation. 
And store ability t' achieve our best. 

Perfect nutrition builds the system well — ■ 
All functions calmly and in concord act — 

Excitants, stimulants, as rancor dwell. 
Tearing along each tender nervous track. 

Reform in diet has been well begun — 

Will move 'tis hoped till saneness has a base ; 

Vast is the work in that branch to be done, 

For human health in all times holds chief place. 

But bad and tedious dress may so distort — 
So vitiate the tissues, blood and nerves, 

That purest food from best selected sort 

Would fail to nourish, and the needs subserve. 



;[58 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Customs in dress to those of food stand next ; 

If light, loose, easy, suited to the form, 
Toil is not tiresome, nature is not vexed — 

Grace, bloom and beauty always health adorn. 

These gifts so prized have flown from human use ; 

They will not thrive where nature is ignored. 
Paints, wasp-waists, ornaments don't reproduce, 

The fashion Santa Claus is fairly floored. 

Weak knees scarf-tied together, hips bound bendless. 
Feet pressed round with huge plaitings, decked 
trails drawing, 

Give haggard visages, perplexings endless, 
Outlines inhuman, and illusions saurine. 

These odd devices come thro' mighty strain 
Of plans to make believe gauds anywhere, 

E'en whisked round feet, are beauties, this serves gain, 
And holds the sex inane, too weak to care 

How goes the world, its freedom, conscience, truth, 
If they're but sought in fashions mazy round : 
Thus swayed by flattery, trained to shams from youth, 
They're servants to all things but knowledge sound. 

Is it not clear the wily fashion trade 

Becomes a basic cause to countless ills — ■ 

Stands against progress as a marching raid. 
And truth's fine foresight with its palsy fills ? 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 159 

A system based in health and labor's need, 
The human form a st^indard of its styles, 

Large range of choice, as pers'nal taste may lead, 
The wise accept in dress, more rule beguiles. 

In view of all that women sacrifice. 

And all men suffer in the mutual loss. 
Beside the fact that all their gains arise 

As force against their good, and counts as dross, 

I plead with woman's tender sympathies 
For abolition of this branch of wrong, 

That other branches preying on our interests 

May lack its weight to make them doubly strong. 

The labor cause starving in sight of stores 

Its hands have piled, yet finds no balance beam 

To equalize the medium that flow^s 

The wealth producer and the hoards between. 

Cannot expect the crosses to adjust. 

When half its friends strive on oppression's side. 
Just able to throw up the choking dust. 

While wasting silks to help the rich o'erride. 

This half, and either sex, ta'en as a whole, 
Viewed in the light of influence on the other. 

Should be with labor, strong in hand and soul, 
Self-poised and potent as a patriot's mother. 



160 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



To their full duty would our women turn, 

'Twould not be possible for men to wrong them.. 

Nor crush each other by the craft they learn, 

As guides to peace they'd dwell, as doth belong 
them. 



Science well lived refines each human function, 
Culturing change and growing knowledge lights 

A star for each that sheds the wisdom unction. 
And shows pure love and peace in equal rights^ 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. IQl 



CANTO VII. 

Governments wait for women to withdraw 
From many sins that rock the public quiet ; 

And equal suff'rage, tho' sustained by law, 
Is hindered by some show that few desire it. 

The church thro' them spreads its old fears and 
glooms, 

And liberty of conscience languishes — 
Its martyrs shut to-day in grated rooms ; 

Mitchell and partner are its vritnesses. 

And Hey wood, with a mind as strong and bright 
As morning star, pure and benevolent 

As it is brave to publish, speak and w^rite 
'Gainst cruel wrongs, is hence to prison sent. 

Good movements are astir for better States, 

And tyrannies oppose to the extent 
Of casting innocence behind their grates. 

Which all the good of earth should well resent ; 
6. 



l(>2 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

And stay this inquisition raised afresh 

To bring more power to the late Jesuit clans, 

Which show again they'd torture human flesh 
With just a little more strength in their hands. 

But truth delightful and invincible, 

Is building domes and science will them fill. 

Her course is ever toward the universal — 
Error and force unite, themselves to kill. 

But in their path of self destruction fall 

The noble laborers for humanity — 
Hence, Truth her forces into form should call 

To stay the ravaging calamity. 

The temp'rance cause sways here and there, but ne'er 
Grows firm, both sexes poison founts of thirst ; 

That women's habits help none seem aware ; 
Her drugs and dress do much, if not the worst. 

The social branch where wrongs the sorest fall — 
Where mending slowly seems almost to blind 

One with a sense of needs possessed by all, 
Not less by those who feel no shackles bind. 

Has reached a phase transition's path upon 
Where somehow justice must obtain a show — 

A show not only, make-shifts now have run 

And wronged us, till we turn and say them, no. 



^ LOVE AND TRANSITION. ^Q^ 

Law must make equity parties 'between 

In marriage and divorce, and make divorce 

Available to all as doth beseem 

Them, poor and rich, alike their chosen course. 

And make for suitage matches fair provisions, 
That those who feel they've grown to self control 

In love's pure union, may without derision, 
Or persecution, live as bids the soul. 

'Gainst rules that make us not responsible 
For what occurs when mates each other own, 

And laws that contracts make of no avail, 
The higher law revolts, and takes the throne. 

In cultured conscience, individual 

Accountability assumes a right 
To take but what it earns, and render well 

For all received, standing in merit's might. 

Thence evolutes the light to see these facts, 
The social conscience has a deeper hold 

In rights than the religious, the part it acts 
Has consequences greater, longer told. 

And reason grown to know its ruling place 

Is guiding all the voluntary powers. 
The actions, the involuntary trace 

On this drama+ic, endless life of ours — 



164 



LOVE AND TRANSITION, 



Sees it must manage its own love affairs — 
Make bargains it can bide thro' unseen times, 

In justice to the lover whose life shares 

Results, nought but this righteousness applies. 

Thus, myth and myst'ry blind not either party. 
Dark vowing without knowledge is escaped ; 

But open honor, frank, full-souled and hearty, 
Gives understanding, equal rights well shaped. 

Gives equal chance for purity of life, 

F'r avoiding e'en association with 
Promiscuous intercourse, forever rife 

At best, with something of offense and filth. 

Gives chance for offspring beautiful and sound, 
Conceived and nurtured in love's sweet good will. 

Reared where the clustered kindnesses abound. 
And their young hearts with heavenly incense fill. 

Gives equal chance financially to thrive — 
To live the dual love, not it pretended — 

In bonds for life, intrigues its trust outdrive ; 
Its purest has to selfish arts descended. 

I trust rich, dual love will more be prized 
When liberty its honest chance has t a' en 

To seek for love the happiest and highest,. 
On scientific and celestial plane. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



165 



My firm opinion is, nought else will stand 
The test of trial for high use on earth ; 

For good of mates, times distant or at hand, 

And most of all, for offspring's health and worth. 

Those thinking otherwise have equal right 
Reasons to offer, views to advocate — 

To frame experience by their highest light — 
Being responsible for all they regulate. 

If time and test and science them sustain, 
I will believe, frankly my changes own ; 

No pers'nal likes, no prudery shall constrain ; 
Let truth be freely sought, and fully shown. 

My views are laid in what seems nature's laws : 
A loving rapport so the two forms links 

That a third party from the circle draws 

Magnetic force which one exhausts and sinks: 

And this great vital loss bereaves 'tis seen ; 

The system droops ; the spell so lone and faint 
Has been termed jealousy, cold eyed or green : 

I've watched its pallor, listened to its plaint 

By old and young, both sexes, brave and learned ; 

Strong minded like the simple are imbued — 
The state is physical; should not be spurned, 

But healed. From these conditions I conclude, 



IQQ LOVE AND TRANSITION, 

When one inclines to suit a second place, 

'Tis time to square with number one and leave t 

And tho' mate first is sad to miss that face, 
'Tis best to calmly try not much to grieve. 

The long, deep, dreadful pain of love bereaved 
The world has suffered beyond computation, 

Has been augmented by views that deceived, 
And ignorance of physical relations. 

On all these watched and studied points I base 
Belief that reason should be free to say 

How it will use love — where suppress, what place 
It will vouchsafe to cherish and give play. 

On reason's self and love's demand is laid 
The mighty principles to stand for aye — 

Their regulations will be easy made, 

In ratio as their friends are firm and brave. 

There is no rolling back, or pressing out 

The knowledge that has come to lift dear love 

From force and thraldom, cruelty and doubt ; 

And give good chance its growth and strength to 
prove. 

When thoughts on equity and its relations 
Found clear expression by the voice and pen ; 

On any topic had discrimination, 

Dawned liberty for all things among men. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. -[(^J 

Freedom for reason is to-day's demand — • 
Love can't be free till it has used its eyes 

In reason's care, ages enough to stand 
Alone, and link its fine and subtle ties 



Wisely by viewless essences, and blend 
Adapted brains with lasting flow electric, 

Where mind and soul true counterparting send 
Thro' hearts attempered to response magnetic — 

And there infusing all material force, 

Invite its ready concert in the union 
That may survive some rounds of years, or scores. 

And consummate things sacred to spheres human. 

Now, under mastery and sensuous minds, 
The sexual senses tidings first announce, 

Intelligence untaught, don't haste betimes. 
And reason comes too late to wrong renounce. 

The many cries that discord wakes and swells 
Are fruits legitimate of this condition ; 

When oft'ner than wise foresight, ignorance dwells 
A.t hand, and answers, 'stead of kind monition. 

Bodies thro' habits weak at every door 

Are the most hopeless hindrance to success, 

In finding aids to help the prone and poor 

To states where they can growth gain and redress. 



l(5g LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

They are as sacWning in progressive ranks, 
On which earth's nations now look and depend 

For pioneering thro' the murky danks 

Of sins that darken hosts where none befriend. 

Strong bodies wanting ! well to energize 

Mind, will and courage for the clear-eyed work 

Of this most complex epoch — here arise 

Calls for firm hands no faithful one can shirk. 

And work begins where long it has been calling, 

With qualifying self in basic power 
For all life's turns when great events are falling. 

And no one recks what may alight some hour. 

Think I have shown our present work is changing 
All customs that sustain the wrong, the false — 

Doing it by leaving them, and ranging 

Ourselves with freedom's friends to act or else 

Do the right singly, or by twos, fours, tens. 

Withdraw all influence from the powers that kill, 

And so, rob not the cause the reasoner kens 
As heaven's hope, the earth with peace to fill. 

As much on woman as on man depends 
In all the sister branches of reform — 

In social freedom more, her co-work lends 
The element to vitalize and warm. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. IQ() 

Were either sex more by it to be gainer, 

'Tis hers, she's been by marriage more oppressed ; 

If she can learn how much its meshes pain her, 
How little love they leave, how little rest. 

She'll take her own, with husbands truer better 
Than law enjoins, with those who license make it, 

Prefer blest singleness, ignore the fetter, 
And know deceptions and abuses break it. 

'Tis not so sad to be without a mate — 
All must be sometimes, many very long ; 

Some for great usefulness accept the state. 

And life, health, toil enjoy, and friendship strong. 

Culture should recognize the celebrate, 

And qualify each child for happiness 
As such, then it can safely regulate 

A self-poised course that either state can bless. 

Without such poise it makts a sexual slave. 
Alone or mated lacks in centerstance — 

Right education teaches it to save 

The power now sought in doubtful marriage chance. 

Girls well as boys should learn 'tis mercenary 

As slavish, thus a living to receive — 
Weak and inane to thus seek reputation — 

Support and character of pride relieve. 



IJQ LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Hence, body-soundness, tact to nobly use it, 
Will all redeem when they will turn unto it — 

To-day the sexes equally at use it [rue it. 

Wrecked minds and morals show how all should 

Health being crucial test of all fulfilling, 
Woman should make it her especial aim ; 

These crucial times need every truth's instilling, 
To turn the scale in favor of her claim. 

Again comes up the crushing, mammoth sin. 

Fashion, to show she cannot carry it. 
And in her causes staked, e'er hope to win ; 

To live for them, she must awake and parry it. 

Duty to womanhood, manhood as well. 
To all that's excellent in human growth, 

Demands hygenic dress, it only tells 

There's virtue left for goodness to put forth — 

To bear herself up w^here fell wrongs surround. 
And craft sweeps nations as a tidal surge, 

To own some independence on love's ground — 
Droop not in market, woman's gen'ral scourge. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 17I 



CANTO YIII, 

They err, who count the conjugal as all, 
Or nearly so, of joys the earth provides — • 

The all embracing great, and pure fraternal, 
'to the sublime benevolent allied — 

The rich ideal blent with scientific — 

And the industrial, an endless range. 
Which twining in the inventive and artistic, 

Give pleasure widest scope and restful change. 

These peoplings of the glorious cerebrum, 
Above the embowered, lesser cerebellum, 

Are unto it, as are the temple's dome 

To vestibule and boudoir, still these come, 

Helpers essential for due time and place, 

And just to learn what is due, mind is straining. 

That tyranny and lust cease to disgrace [waning. 

The whole grand structure, marred, disfigured, 



172 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Dread mastery held a long, dark, direful power, 
To tell how domes must totter 'neath its hand ; 

Now Keason, star-eyed watcher in the tower, 

Looks down and plants a sceptre by Love's stand. 

Sisters, will you accept it, dare you call 

Yourselves your own, seeing each bond beguiles, 

Physical, mental and affectional ? 

For what enslaves, perforce dwarfs and defiles. 

No law can harm you, and no courts arraign — 
Better alone to work your chosen way, 

Than be pressed down by any greed or gain. 
Grinding you out, that it may meanly sway. 

Good unions need not suffer, or feel shaken 
When bad disunion demonstrates its case ; 

This topic is abroad, and must awaken 

Free thought, and 'mong discussions keep its place. 

None are more fit for the investigations 

Than you who have been subject, and have borne 

The burden of great sorrows in relations 

Which are, as lott'ry chances, threadbare worn. 

Hard as the struggle is, 'tis easier far [wronging 

Than struggling in the wrong, know^ing you'r 

Present and coming ages — freedom's jar 
Is music when it takes its own belongings. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. ^j;] 

These years of singleness are not lost time — 

For poising development are useful , 
It needs some lone research the heights to cliral) 

That overlook past eras, gross and youthful. 

I have been gazing down there, and along 

The lines of empires, kingdoms, popedoms, priests, 

Found monsters oft, a few men somewhat strong, 
And on them all the church kings made their feast. 

Women who manifested power and brains, 

Brief records got, unless they were the queens ; 

They mostly made improvements on men's reigns, 
And one, herself ruled, tho' she loved, it seems. 

Am glad for love's sake Briton bore Queen Bess , 
Glad a Eecamier with great head and heart. 

And matchless beauty bloomed, gay France to blc.._. 
Tho' banished by a jealous Bonaparte, 

The traits thro' all the past most prominent, 
From Moses down to Csesar, thence to Hayes, 

With personal ambition dominant — • 
As each male institution still arrays, 

Was a voluptuousness of appetite, 

The gustatory often gross indeed, 
The amatory as excessive quite. 

The temper furious, want swayed, not need. 



174 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



'Twas truly said the prevalent demand 

Was " wine and women," first the dazing wine, 

Then patient serving-wornen stood, still stand, 
Scapegoats for spoilers of a long, dark line. 

In all the doings women being enlisted. 

Their interest linked as now, by hope of love, 

They could but moulded be to what existed, 
Acting the part assigned, their help to prove. 

Held by the firm injunction that their sphere 
Was love, attraction, service, prettiness. 

They made the tender sentiment so dear, 
'Twas very w^orship, they but mistresses. 

Thro' sensual ages this blind doting cherished, 
Unfolded and transmitted, on and on — 

The true idea of just afiection perished. 
If ever it to love's sweet soul was born. 

Men liked idolatry, it ever blinds, 

Gives power to lord it o'er the woman prized ; 
This too 's inherited, to-day their minds 

Are 'warped by cravings to be idolized. 

The effects on women were undue devotion, 

Susceptibilities too early stirred, 
Love-life too near their all ; too fond emotions 

Disqualify for equity, preferred. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 175 

These great facts understood, they ought to take 
Of knowledge lessons, learn to stand alone — 

A justice tie, a side by side match make, 

Love men full well, and not themselves disown. 

I know self-justice is not ready learned. 

Must be learned o'er and o'er, stamped on the glove, 
A talisman into lax memory burned. 

Ere women live the golden rule in love. 

But it would give consistent womanhood. 

Manhood would prize it, proudly walk beside. 

Knowing fit growth was made for motherhood ; 
And pigmy men would means of growth provide. 

Too long they've clung the torn and tangled vines, . 

Swung in the breeze and wooed the poplar's cloaks ; 
Now let them rise erect, the healing pines, 

Playing soft air-lutes by their harp-strung oaks. 

What calm, rich music might pervade the groves 
Of human life, what peace perennial beam 

On the fair vales, what quiet blessing loves 

Walk hand in hand on flowery brink of stream. 

Work in the fields, the shops, the cheery homes. 
And daily wreath their brows with lasting youth. 

By living out the principle that comes, 
With liberty to live the highest truth. 



l^Q LOVE AND TRANSITION, 

Whereof is here affirmed fii]l well is known ; 

My seven years' servitude in legal ties — 
My love all-giving worship made, and thrown 

Away in constant tides where no replies 

Flowed as sustaining showers on head or heart, 

Taught much, and clearer made my tear-washed 
eyes — 

But A'^engeance has no place in me, no part 

In my works, views, or sequence thence to rise. 

I calmed my soul, and made the trials lessons — 
Do not believe in grief, but truth and thrift — • 

Thus every pang has wrought its benisons. 
Aiding my toils for those who need the gift. 

Some partial workers for a peaceful state 
Believe my intellect too much evolved, 

My love too little, when it is so great 

Its labors are for all — the problem solved, 

That passion's selfish grasp, love's sensuous part. 
In overgrowth has social life deranged. 

Customs that thrive, I note, aud wrongs that start 
In that grasp, part, derangement, must be changed : 

So, near beginnings as may be, begin — 

Improvements needed most, practise and preach ; 

And spiritualizing love's materialism, 

Is good, just now, in many ways to teach. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



177 



Mind that its love has guided years a score, 
And given its labors to philanthropy, 

In turn serves love, the higher, mean, and lower, 
Each plane as needed — will not all agree ? 

Love was my looked-for heaven in youth's ideal — 
Eose-wreathed its palace 'neath warm, amber skies 

Still, seemings above hopes that 'twill prove real 
In some high realm, on aspirations rise. 

I grieved to see the wedded were unhappy. 
Because they did not love and friendship keep, 

So early, my young head in mother's lap lay 
To tell the bitter tale, and sadly weep. 



If truly taught, we'd not repine, regret, 

But mend our errors and our brows becalm : 

If some age don't teach this, and spare the next 
Its woes, progress a farce is, science a charm. 



]^yg LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



CANTO IX. 

Sorrows most serious are those of love, 
And mostly because taught it is lifelong ; 

Or if not, the false seeming must deceive, 
However many hearts may writhe in wrong. 

Deceiving has been dire beyond all speech, 

Writhings intense, till youth with age outcries, 

Yet, law has sought not the sad case to reach ; 
Hence, prostitution on the dilemma thrives. 

Now people wise, learn'd, virtuous, temperate, 

P]'opose to law a salutary mending, 
On th' plane of human nature's fixed estate, 

And love's which is involuntary blending. 

And just as sure, involuntary ending — ■ [prating — 
So, friends of old creeds, don't presume we're 

For mental, civil, social rights we're sending 
Forth knowledge, needs, and duties to be taking. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 



179 



Statesmen, act with transition while 'tis shaking 
Earth to the centre, turning laws to view 

Statutes must second in this wide awaking. 
Or lose what def 'rence they have left, or you ; 

Laws that gleam out like glitt'ring rivers breaking 
O'er regions parched, or fruitless desert lands — 

And pilgrims here their chronic thirst are slaking, 
Like travelers hasting to the new-flowed sands. 

They're founded in the depths of soul and matter, 
Evolved, exhumed, and can't be laid aside — 

This, ignorance will learn, and cease its clatter, 
When puffed pretense ashamed is to deride. 

The good time come is coming more securely, 
And need not move so slowly o'er the years ; 

But haply will at length launch in more purely, 
Washed of more slavishness, more snobbish fears. 

For pride of caste is still a hydra sin, 

Of show and wealth, a folly that unmans. 

While venal weakness churchly schools within. 

Requires, no arch power knows, what times and 
plans. 

Yet, when from out those schools reformers come. 
And show some lapse in which they cultured were, 

Old mother church cries, " see the awful sum 
Of wickedness new heresies confer " — 



180 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

Forgetting she the people prone uprears, 
And her diathesis perforce they bear, 

Till true life works it out, sublimes and clears. 

And freedom's flesh and blood their souls can wear. 

What has been most condemned is the mistakiner 

o 

Of healing rapport for a fixe 1 attraction' — 
A pity, not a shame, like the much making 
Of marriages by psychologic action. 

In courtship, will, perchance unconscious, acts — 
The man, or maid, may feel reciprocal 

When not adapted ; knowledge of these facts 
Should safeguards make in matters conjugal. 

There be who think the truest social state 

Would release woman as a laborer- — 
Keward man for the all supplying fate, 

In a responsive, always restful lover. 

Ah ! what a little, stupid, harem queen, 

The fed, adorned and dandled thing would be ; 

No forces acting but thro' sex, 'tis seen 
She must in that grow a monstrosity. 

Her children would be gross and purposeless, 
Tend to disease and vice still more than now — 

Intelligence and science fall apace. 

And gen'ral enterprise to " lager " bow. 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. 1<^]^ 

Greater mistake could not occur, I trow — 
Just the reverse needs to be done for love — 

Choice in pursuits, muscle and mind aglow 

With strength to stand by self, and that strength 
prove. 

This gives her means to make her labors mild, 
And choose her hours for science, toil and art — 

Release from the dependence that has piled 

Her lap with dues that reached and rent the heart. 

Ancestral sensualism having bequeathed 

Over development affectional — 
Reliance still on marriage as a shield, 

For like effects being objectionable — 

The call for mental freedom to direct 

In social matters is legitimate 
By all that's high in this stage or the next. 

And pers'nal rights are claimed by far too late. 

iSTow, all are sick from manifold excess — 

From stimulants, the fire-blight, earth o'erspread- 
ing— 

Death-fraught distortions in the name of dress, 
Giving false powers affinital imbedding. 

And something more than strongly talking, writing — 
Than printing under able, clear expounding. 

Is needed — all the knowing must be citing 
The friends of truth to be in deeds abounding. 



182 LOVE AND TRANSITION. 

The mothers of the world must live reform — 
Customs must reel, and vibrate into poise, 

Ere freedom's rainbow smile away the storm, 
Or justice make abode with any cause. 

If matrons thus live, mothers will take suit. 
Fathers accede, or else as fathers fail — 

Hence will bear, either none, or better fruit : 
Woman might balance soon the social scale. 

Who says, I'm ready to turn from the snares, 
And in my weary breast a heaven-home build, 

While weeding paths and lanes of vice-sown tares, 
By being emblem of a plat well tilled ? 

Who says Truth is the Christ, in it I trust — 
No other saves from wrong and penalty — 

The sins Jesus denounced were greed and lust, 
His hell, disease, his church, humanity ? 

Who says goodness is God, and God is love — 

I'll seek it, keep it in its purity — 
None shall command or tempt from it to rove. 

Sacred to me, unfailing surety ? 

Who sees in this ransacking of the land 

By church complottings, a strong grasp for life — 

In persecutings of the saints who stand 
For righteous equity, a fiendish strife ? 



LOVE AND TRANSITION. ]^g3 

And who will work against them with a soul 
Imbued with great, good spirit for the right — 

Will stand from under scarlet kings' control, 
And wield for freedom superhuman might ? 

Who sees in this despairing of the poor — 
This strong recoil of labor's aching hand, 

The conflict of the ages at each door, 

Crying, " Transition has improvements planned ?" 

And who will leave the usages that link 
Efforts with those that against justice bear, 

Hopefully show they're not disposed to sink. 
And let the lordlings victory's badges wear ? 

Who sees the wife's wan grief has a deep meaning. 
And husband's 'plaints tell there is real wrong — • 

Se:s chivalry defunct, and law aleaning, 

YV^hile fair-browed science looks the case along ? 

And who will speak just what they know about it, 
Not by disguising, wickedness sustain — 

Truth saves the true, tho' ignorance may scout it 
A little longer in her driveling wane ? 

Who sees that love is the last attribute 

The care of which a person should consign 

To other heads, or law ; that it is absolute, 
No will can bind it, or its age divine ? 



134 LOVE AND TRANSITION, 

That it lives by compatibilities 

Which few well comprehend, comes imdesired, 
Goes not at bidding, but as nature wills. 

And those it seizes should alone decide, 

On its expressions— that when found unwise 
To cherish it, much time is ta'en ta sever 

The rapport, if between adapted bodies. 

Hence, some have argued it is sundered never — 

That the worst prostitution woman knows 
Is to have body bound when love has died. 

And mind and soul revolt amid the throes 
Where every sense is worse than crucified ? 

Who sees these things, and knows the age is past. 
When scientists can truly, possibly, 

Make old time vows to love while life shall last — 
Transition answering philosophy — 

Sees with me so far, would that more saw farther, 
And felt that doing must respond to seeing — 

Alas ! among the best how many are there, 
Glad to pay nobly for the richest being? 

The Argument sums up, reforms depend 

On man's good will and work for sister woman, 

Her justice seek as his, her rights defend, 
In all respects standing a noble freeman — 



LOVE A^'D TRANSITION. ;lg5 

And on her knowing duties, rights and needs, 
Daring to do the thing that them supplies, 

That the full strength of all her being feeds, 
And taking freedom that will thus suffice. 

Believing well performs not all the duty — 

" Be doers of the word," was once well said — 

In doing what we've faith in, deeds have beauty, 
They shun what long to many sins has led. 

In lucid logic on the near relation. 

Believing in reforms makes a reformer. 

As much as makes book lore on navigation, 
A voyager o'er the rounded ocean water. 

But knowing and believing, requisite foundations, 
Prove the vast numbers gaining clearer sight — 

May goodness guide them to their fitting stations, 
And soon inspire to do the best, the right. 

On slaves to prejudice and superstition. 
By bigot's led thro' sin's miasmal night, 

May renovation fall with hale condition. 

And heavenly influence shed truth's full daylight. 

On leaders, rulers, whatsoe'er they're seeking. 
May angel-prophet words, like trump notes fall. 

To mind, sense, conscience, truth's divinest speaking 
To live and linger till they're converts all. 



186 



LvOVE AND TRANSITION. 



May righteousness be universal mission — 
Equality be gained, pure love increase — 

Wrongs, wars, be quelled by nature's kind transition, 
And all be reconciled in perfect peace. 




CONTENTS. 



PART I 



The Epic, comprising Prologue, 
The Bower, . . 

Episode, . 
Lindale's Retrospect, 
Lindale's Invocation, . 
Lindale's Meditation, 
Epilogue to Meditation, 
Lindale's Renewal, 
Lindale's Confession, . 
Flavia's Response, 
Flavia's Decision, 
Neveve's Mistake, . 
Neveve Restored, 
The Husband's Retort, 
Herman's Finale, 
Suitage, 
Marriage, 



PAGE 

11 
17 
21 
32 
34 
36 
59 
60 
64 
72 
75 
80 
91 
96 
99 
102 
106 



189 



PART IL 



THE ARGUMENT. 

CANTO I. 

The field of action glanced over, . . . Ill 

CANTO II. 

Chivalry— growth and change of mind and love, 119 

CANTO III. 

Gallantry, mutability, magnetic robbery, abund- 
ance and poverty, .... 127 

CANTO IV. 

Woman's vassalage, standards of morality, foeti- 
cide, subjection to popular corruption, humane 
treatment, ...... 135 

CANTO V. 

Professed friends are real enemies when they work 
with the enemy, appeal for courage and true 
action, church craft. .... 144 

CANTO VI. 

Fashion, duty to soar above it pointed out by all 

reforms, ...... 152 

CANTO VII. 

Ecclesiastical persecutions, reason should contro^ 
love's expressions, all should be cultured to self- 
support, ...... 161 

CANTO VIII. 

Supremacy of spirituality and intellect over 
passions and appetites, women's worship, 
scape-goats, personal charge of suppressed 
love refuted, . . . . .171 

CANTO IX. 

Law must second Transition's demands, practical 
work required of those who see the needs of 
the times, ..... 178 



LOVE ANEV TRANSITION. 

A Poem of nearly 200 pages, comprising Illustrated 
Life, and Arguments for the Close of the Nine- 
teenth Century. By Mary E. Tillotsou. 

—Price, $1 00 



PROGRESS vs. FASHION. 

An Essay of 31 pages on the Sanitary and Social Influ- 
ences of Woman's Costume. By M. E. Tillotson. 

—Price, 10 cts. 



WOMAN'S WAY OUT. 

Opinions of Eminent and Earnest Thinlvcrs on the 
Eflects of Woman's Fashionable Dress, 32 j^ages. 
Edited by M. E. Tillotson, of Vineland, N. J. 

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